Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1)
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. 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...
Reviews (175)
TW: THIS BOOK IS VERY, VERY DARK
READ WITH CAUTION. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF RAPE, CHILD RAPE (AND OTHER BLATANT PEDOPHILIA), INCEST, AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE IN THIS BOOK. I think the premise is interesting, and I definitely enjoy dark subject matter, but the author seems to hit you over and over with rape because apparently it is extremely prevalent in this world. This is not a book to read if you are sensitive or a trauma survivor. Also, several people have said that if you're a fan of Jacqueline Carey you'll be a fan of this series, but I personally think that the two authors aren't all that similar. I have read Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy and Naamah Trilogy more times than I can count and though the subject matter between that series and this one are loosely matched, I believe that Jacqueline's books have MUCH more world and character building, along with politics, intrigue, and adventure. If that's what draws you to Jacqueline's books (like me) then this series may not do it for you. If you're familiar with the Kushiel's Legacy series, then the level of intensity of this book is around the level of Daršanga, but for the whole book. I haven't decided if I'm going to continue on with this series or stop after this first book because all the pedophilia is really squicking me out, but I am curious about how the plot will turn out. So, in conclusion, just read with caution.
There is violence
The Others is one of my favorite fantasy series. I've been meaning to read the Black Jewels but for lack of time, I couldn't do it until now. The one thing I love about the Daughter of the Blood is the 4 main characters. We have a young girl, Jaenelle who has magical powers who can become the most powerful Witch. She is innocent and has been able to make many friends in different realms. She is not aware of how much power she has, so she does things her own way. Jumping from region to another one using magic without her family being aware. She's so powerful that little things magically speaking don't come easy for her, to the point that her family in Terreille thinks she's without much of a gift. Second, we have Daemon Sadi SaDiablo, one of the two princes, sons of Saetan. He is terrifying in his "coldness". For centuries, he has been forced to live as a pleasure slave. A pleasure slave that hates being used this way but who sometimes uses it to his advantage when it's necessary. He has a Ring of Obedience which is used to hurt him by Queen Dorothea. Third, we have Lucivar, the other son. Also a slave in another region. He's less dangerous than Daemon but has a bad temper. Sometimes, he wants to stop the pain but he hopes that someday, he could serve a Queen who deserves it. Last, we have Saetan Daemon SaDiablo, the High Lord of Hell. He was forced to leave his two sons in the hands of an evil woman who wanted nothing else than to cause him pain and destroy his kids' will in the process. Jaenelle, a young girl will be the catalyst for these 3 powerful men to dedicate their lives to love her and protect her. I enjoyed the storyline but I do have to mention, there were plenty of scenes that were hard to read. Most of them involved rape, sexual abuse, and torture. If you can't stomach it, please skip this book. I'm intrigued enough by the story, to continue reading the next book in this series. Cliffhanger: Yes 3/5 Fangs
Amazing stories and writing with some seriously dark subjects
I put in Explicit Sexual Content not because there are sex scenes but because there are some really touchy sex-related subjects in these books. Be aware--these are NOT erotica or even romantica. Incredibly well-written, but touching on child abuse, rape, slavery, and a WHOLE slew of other landmines. This is true of most, if not all, of her writing. If you aren't mature enough (or you don't think your child is), don't read this series until you are. And because I am me, the editing is pretty awesome. If you look hard enough, you can always find mistakes as everyone involved in a book is human, but these were minor and rarely if ever knocked me out of the story enough to notice them.
Not what I was expecting...
I was introduced to Anne Bishop through her Others series and loved it, so I started looking for other books by her. I found the black jewels series and saw all the high reviews and jumped right in. I'm not overly squeamish and usually don't mind dark or violent books. But I couldn't finish this book... I didn't even manage to get very far into it and I have an almost obsessive need to know what happens next, even with books I don't really care for. I kept thinking I'll just get past this part so I can enjoy the rest of the book, but I gave up when I realized sex and violence (usually at the same time) was going to be a pretty prevalent theme throughout the book. Since I didn't finish the book, I didn't feel it was completely fair to give it a low review so I gave it 3 stars. I'm sure it has some redeeming qualities and may very well be the great book the majority of the readers say it is, but I couldn't force myself to continue reading past the non-stop, explicit sexual abuse to find out.
Love all of the Black Jewel Series
Love all of the Black Jewel Series, I actually purchased them at this time for my sister as a Christmas gift. My sister had read the first 3 but hadn't had the opportunity to read any of the others so I purchased the entire series for her. She loved the first 3, I'm sure this one will be no different. These books are definitely not for the kindhearted and I would describe them as dark and disturbing for most of the series, they can be graphic, horrifying, fantastic, whimsical, saddening and much much more. I have found myself actually laughing out loud, and crying so hard I had to put them away for a while. I've read and reread them probably close to 10 times and can say that I feel they blow most other writers and writing styles out of the water. Everyone is all about 50 Shades of Gray for its sexual content and heat but, in my opinion, nothing beats these books in that aspect as well as many others, I find myself wishing I could step through the pages and live in their world. These books are definitely something you read with an open mind and they are by no means written for children. Daughter of the Blood will have you balling your eyes out at some parts, I always think it is one of the best written and there is so much going on that you wonder how the author could get all that information into one book.
They are three of my favorite books, but are not for those with a ...
This is the first book of a trilogy. They are three of my favorite books, but are not for those with a weak stomach. There is sexual violence and violence against children. Janelle is a powerfully gifted child destined to rid the world of its evil ruler and all who follow her. She is surrounded by people she cannot trust. She makes good friends but they are not really in a position to help her until she is older. This book follows Janelle from the age of six to the age of twelve. For such a dark world, there is a great deal of heart and humor. That's what I like so much about it. The end of the book marks the end of Janelle's childhood.The second book follows Janelle as a teenager and the third follows Janelle as an adult.
Almost didn't finish it! Glad I did!
By the 27% mark, I was ready to throw in the towel. Not being used to this style of writing, I felt lost and confused throughout that whole beginning. Decidedly, I trudged on and I'm glad that I did. The constant ping ponging between the characters giving small revelations in the short sections I felt was annoying in the beginning. As I got used to it, I see now that the story couldn't be written any other way. My heart broke for Jeanelle, repeatedly... all the main characters have been twisted and damaged by events outside of their control. The only one who seems like they have it all together is Jeanelle, and she's just a child! It hurts the heart reading this, I wanted to wrap them all in cuddly clouds of assurance that everything is going to be alright. It's not all death, doom and gloom, there were parts that had me smiling wistfully at the innocent interactions between Jeanelle and those who help her survive her life.
Powerful, Fascinating, and Dark
DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD is a fascinating dark fantasy about an ancient prophecy that is finally coming to fruition. Daemon Sadi, Lucivar Yaslana, and Saeton have all been waiting for hundreds of years. Jaenelle is the potential Witch who can make things better and end the abuses practiced by the Queens who have gotten darker and darker. But when she makes her first appearance in the story, she is only a seven-year-old child who is in a terrible situation and who uses powers that are almost beyond comprehension to travel to many worlds. Jaenelle is an intriguing character. She is young but already knows so much about evil and betrayal. She has a sweetness and a deep curiosity and a tremendous ability to love. She also has a deep anger at what is happening around her. When she is twelve, Daemon meets her and recognizes that she will be his Queen. He's determined to protect her and shelter her which isn't easy for a man who is under control of one of the most evil and powerful Queens. But Daemon has powers of his own too which might be enough to keep this beautiful child safe. The world building is intriguing as we see a society that is becoming more and more corrupt and more and more disconnected from the land. We see Queens who are quick to kill any potential rival which has the effect of diluting the power and magic. We see intrigue and treachery and a child who inspires those who love her to be better than they thought they could be. I can't wait to read more in this series.
Luckily, Anne Bishop eventually became a much better writer
I've really enjoyed her books about The Others, so I was excited to start the Black Jewels series. I've gotten halfway through the book and am abandoning it...something I do very, very rarely. There are three main reasons: 1. She does too much complex world-building too quickly. In the first 5% of the book, we hear about Tersa, Daemon Sadi, Lucivar (and his nickname, Yasi, eventually), Pruul, Zuultah, Dorithea Sa Diablo, Jaenelle. Then comes references to places: Terreille, Pruul, Chaillot, and place or group-related names such as Eyrien or Prythian. It becomes painful to try and keep it straight. In comparison, Written in Red starts with a much narrower focus on one place and a small handful of characters. 2. There is too much graphic violence, much of it unnecessary. 3. The story does not move along quickly. We're all stuck in the mire with unlikeable characters too much o the time. I wanted to like this book -- I loved the idea that there were so many books in the series. Alas, it wasn't for me. I'll look forward to what she writes in The Others realm, but I'm leaving the Black Jewels behind.
Dark, Disturbing and Dastardly with a Fantastic Storyline and World.
Daughter of the Blood is a brutal and twisted tale and isn’t going to be for everyone. Heck I think that with a lot of the things touched on in this book nine times out of ten it wouldn’t be for me, but Anne Bishop’s writing and ability to weave a tale kept me captivated. There is so much brutality in this against Men, Women and children that it goes really dark at times. The story also touches on child molestation and a bit of human trafficking neatly disguised as something else. There are times that the story made me uncomfortable, as it should with the subject matter, but there was no time that I wanted to put the book down as I was so engrossed in the story. Anne Bishop has built a unique fantasy world full of complicated and broken characters. This dark world has been twisted from what it should have been. Some people, known as the Blood, are gifted and wear jewels. The color of the jewel indicates the power level of The Blood and they are given from the mist or a different realm at birth and then at other major moments in someone’s life. The Blood used to be the protectors of the land, but their power has been twisted by a bad ruler who has either enslaved the strong Blood or killed them, but there is a prophecy that Witch will come and set right what has been broken. ***“They twist things to suit themselves. They dress up and pretend. They wear Blood Jewels but don’t understand what it means to be Blood. They talk of honoring the Darkness, but it’s a lie. They honor nothing but their own ambitions. The Blood were created to be the caretakers of the Realms. That’s why we were given our power. That’s why we come from, yet are apart from, the people in every Territory. The perversion of what we are can’t go on. The day is coming when the debt will be called in, and the Blood will have to answer for what they’ve become.” *** There are a lot of characters in this story, but the majority of it is seen though three character’s arcs. Daemon, an enslaved Prince forced to be a whore for the aristocracy, Saetan the guardian of the dead and not really a bad guy, and Jaenelle a child with extraordinary power and the prophesized Witch that will one day put right all that was wrong in all of the realms. Any book that can make Saetan into a mentor and father figure is a win in my mind. I really liked the twist that the characters that are normally going to be the bad guys in any other book are really the good guys in this one. Saetan is a friend and teacher to Jaenelle, she is a little girl with so much power that most fear her and what she will become, or they want to control her. But Saetan has a different plan, one that just might work. ***“So she can’t move furniture around a room, but she can destroy an entire continent.” “She’ll never do that. It’s not in her temperament.” “How can you be sure? How will you control her?” They were back to that. He took his cape back and settled it over his shoulders. “I’m not going to control her, Cassandra. She’s Witch. No male has the right to control Witch.” Cassandra studied him. “Then what are you going to do?” Saetan picked up his cane. “Love her. That will have to be enough.” *** It is slowly teased out the danger that Jaenelle is in and how this little girl sees and does things so different from the rest of the world. She isn’t understood by her family but innocently she is collecting friends from all the realms and will one day be a force to be reckoned with if Saetan can protect her until she reaches adulthood. Daemon’s story is so sad. He has been enslaved for most of his life and didn’t know that Saetan was his father for a long time. Daemon has been waiting for Witch to come for seven hundred years, since the night the prophecy was spoken. He knows that one day he will be her consort and it is the only thing that has been keeping him sane. When he finally encounters Witch he is so surprised that she is only twelve at the time. He wants desperately to protect her from all the evil surrounding her but his position as a slave is precarious and so he plays the game and bides his time, watching over her and trying to protect her. I did love their interactions in this. It was fun to see how well Jaenelle could twist not only Daemon but also Saetan up. ***“Daemon had written: "What do you do when she asks a question no man would give a child an answer to?" Saetan had replied: "Hope you're obliging enough to answer it for me. However, if you're backed into a corner, refer her to me. I've become accustomed to being shocked.” *** Like I’ve said before there is a ton of dark moments in this. If you have a sexual hot button it is probably going to press it. There is incest, pedophilia, molestation, rape, human trafficking, torture and much much more. I wanted most of the aristocracy in this book dead and while every part of the dark deeds done in this added to the story and it is written really well the moments are uncomfortable and sometimes devastating. I really loved the world created her with the different realms, creatures, magics and lands. It is unique and interesting and I can’t wait to read more of the story. I was drawn in and completely captivated by this tale.
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