Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels) by Anne Bishop Review

Series: The Black Jewels #1
Publish: March 1st 1998 by Roc
Format: ebook, 416 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: The Dark Kingdom is preparing itself for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy the arrival of a new Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But this new ruler is young, and very susceptible to influence and corruption; whoever controls her controls the Darkness. And now, three sworn enemies begin a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal...and the destiny of an entire world is at stake....

Review:
  I usually read books that are recently released, but some of the times I find little jewels from the past like this one, most of the time they are high fantasy and quite edgy. I found this book after finishing Murderer of crows, one of the authors other books. I really liked her style so I searched for her other works and I got The Black Jewels series.

  Anne Bishop has a unique talent to create interesting and original worlds for her stories and she did it with this book to. Although in this case we get an extremely complicated and dark world and it takes quite a while to really get an understanding about how the society works. So you don’t get a clear picture about the structure of it until almost the end of the book and even then you only see the life of the higher ups in the hierarchy. It’s an amazing world but incredibly deprived and most of the time disgusting. During reading it I often thought that there isn’t as many pervert, ugly and abusive people in the whole world as in this book. Even so I just couldn’t stop reading it. The story simply sucked me in and it was impossible to stop reading it. I can’t call the story beautiful because there is too much graphic negativity in it but it’s certainly fascinating and well developed. There is so much sexuality in it, savagely and vividly described but in case of the more crude words Bishop uses symbolism.
  The whole story is built around a really twisted, pleasure based politics but not the good kind of pleasure. They use it as a punishment, and all of the leaders have a sadistic, pervert and arrogant personality, so in my opinion their world is doomed.
  One of the strangest thing about it, that despite the fact that the story’s told from a couple point of view, maybe even from too many, but neither of them is Jaenelle side, yet we get a full picture. We don’t get into her head so it’s harder to connect with her but with a bit of persistence you got there. It’s a new solution at least for me, and I think it’s harder this way to give a balanced and complete story. Well the author executed it perfectly. So yeah, maybe there is a couple of unnecessary point of view in there which makes it feel like that the story has too much different angle, but as I mentioned previously in the end the writer balanced it out perfectly. But it’s true in the beginning this kind of multi- leveled plot makes hard to follow the storyline.

  Daughter of blood is a quite long book and covers a relatively long period of time, namely years if I remember correctly. Overall I would say that the whole first book of the series is about character introduction and world building, but there is a little bit action too.
  However I had a serious problem with it. There is a list of jewels and a short description about some of the titles in story, but honestly a world map or even just a detailed characterization about the people from different realms would have helped more in regard of following and understanding the story. It’s a minor oversight on the writer part.
  Thanks to the multiple POV there is a lot of important character. Almost all of them is dark, intense, and original and has a strong presence. Sure some of them are terribly arrogant and power hungry but the main characters still loveable despite their shortcomings. My favorite was Daemon with even with his cruel and mean moments. I think he has perfectly justifiable reasons for his actions. I think I would have loved Lucivar too, but unfortunately he has a really short appearance and in the end his accusations pissed me of.
  I surprisingly liked the book. It’s very well done even more so since this was the author debut novel. But I have to mention that you need a really strong and resilient mind if you want to read it since there are a lot of taboo and cringe worthy elements in it. The story is very dark, savage and harsh. The writer is extremely talented and has a twisted imagination, but I like her style. I’m certainly going to read the next book.

By Viki

A Curse Unbroken (Weird Girls) by Cecy Robson Review

Series: Weird Girls #5
Publish: March 10th 2015 by Loveswept
Format: ebook, 296 pages
Rating: 5 / 3.5

Synopsis: The preternatural world is changing. After a massive magical throwdown tore apart the established order, the dark elements are rebuilding their ranks unopposed. Celia Wird’s world is changing, too. She’s the mate of the pureblood were Aric, and his Warriors are honor-bound to protect her family as she and her sisters recover from unimaginable horrors.
Celia hesitates to reveal the true extent of the Wird sisters’ trauma, but they aren’t the only ones keeping secrets: Aric and the werewolf Elders are tracking a stone that grants limitless power. So is a tough coven of witches. Then Misha, a master vampire with his own plans for the stone, sends Celia after it. Can she and the vamps beat both the weres and the witches to the treasure before it falls into the wrong hands?
Fearing for Celia’s safety, Aric begs her to stay out of the hunt. What they don’t realize is that they’re the ones being hunted. But Celia’s ready to prove that she’s not easy prey.

Review:
  I was in live with the series from the first book first page. Celia story really captured my heart. So I was waiting for the time when she gets her happy ending. Finally we get to that point. However tha fact that Celia and Aric can be happy together is one of the only positive thing in this book for me. And sorry but I'm seriously dissapointed in this story. I think Celia part of the series shold've ended in the last book if not earlier. And not because I don't like it but I feel thats the point where it could've been ended with a bang. With this book I think the storyline, idea is overused. I didn't feel the importance or the function of it in relation of the whole story.

  There isn't any substantial plot behind the events. Everything is basicly about creating a rift between Celia and Aric, a rift they already overcome a couple of time in previous books. And everything was really pedictable practicly from the very beginning. I think it's irritating when for the readers it's obvious what happening and who is behind it but the characters are blind to it and hoplessly trying to find out what's the problem. That's my biggest problem with the book beside the complet lack of story.

  Most of the characters are the same, there are a couple of new one but nobody really important. I still love Celia but in this book we get to know a new side of her. Altought she gets injured to much for me but she doesn't let us down. Oh and the best part in the book is Celia and the magic rock relationship. Because of this I laughed a lot.
  Aric finally pulled himself together and started to fight for Celia. He is a little bit overprotective and overly jealous but he is with Celia at least.
  The other sisters however changed a lot and not in the good way. Especially Taran, whom I never liked but in this book I completly hated. She became an annoying girl who don't have a shred of self respect. Since she got much more attention than in former books it was even more exasperating. I know that she went trough a lot of ordeal but I just can't relate to her.

  All in all three things saved the book for me, Celia personality, her relationship and interactions with Shah and the happy ending (Finally!). I'm sorry that it's ended but I don't think that there would have been another story in this particular idea.

Chosen Thief (Forever Evermore) by Scarlett Dawn Review

Series: Forever Evermore #4
Publish: March 8th 2015 by Escape
Format: ebook, 197 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: Caroline Jules knows death is imminent. She’s only 22, but as an inmate of Death Row in the most secure Mystical jail, what else could her future hold?
Caro has no idea. Her solitary, transient life is about to get flipped on its head when it is revealed that she is the new Prodigy Elemental, and she has responsibilities and ties that she can’t ever escape. Caro is attempting to run from a brutal past, but the Rulers have other plans for this thief’s future.
But the transition from a self-contained existence to life with the other Prodigies, the Kings and Queens, and even the Elders was never going to be easy, and Caro has secrets she’s loath to share. Suddenly she has friends, mentors, lovers — and they all want to know more about her than she is willing to reveal.
Will Caro ever escape the darkness of all she is, or will she fall deeper into the life that has been chosen for her?

Review:
  Scarlett Dawn is one of my favorite author and I love the Forever Evermore series so I think I strated the book with quite high expectations. It's good, I really enjoyed it but it's nowhere near as good as the first two book in the series. But lets start in the beginning.

  The story takes place in the same world as the first trilogy just a 20 or so years later. Same world, same problems and some of the same characters. Althought the main focus is on a completly new character, Caro and a new kind of Elemental. Ok, not new but I don't remember it being mentioned previously. And I think the most important difference is the atmosphere, mood that the story generates. There isn't that much heartwrenching and overwhelming emotion and event. We get to know the Mystical world from a different perspective. It's like the same and completly different than Lilly's story.
  There isn't too much action in the plot, still I can't say that the story is missing it. It's how the story builds up, gets to the real starting point. The whole thing is a bit laid back and kind of slow, but it's working and I really enjoyed it. We get to know the new characters, part of the backstory and a couple of things about how the previous characters lifes changed. The information about Lilly, Ezra, Pearl and Jack I was really looking forward to but it's one of the things I was dissapointed in. They became rigid and we don't get to see the dynamism the had in the first three book. I missed that. Otherwise they are still as badass as they were.

  Now for the new 'elements' mainly the characters. Caro is a special kind of Elemental, and we don't really get to know about her ability. Based on the synopsis and a couple of reviews I read before getting the book I was expevting her to be a badass and unstoppable character. She is badass and strong but not in the way I originally thought. I like her personality and her flaws, she is more human than the heartless killer the synopsis suggests at least in this book. I think she has two sides the volnerable, lonley girl and the aforementiond heartless killer. One of her sides we don't get to see, yet. The author keeps her past a mystery and it pissed me of because there are shady references to the past and we don't know what are they talking about. It is annying. As for her personal life, tath is really complicated. There are more than one possible outcome, the question is who will she choose. I corious and don't quite agree with her decisions in that aspect of her life so far. We will see.
  Sin is another new character, who play puite an important part in Caro life. Their connection is confusing but they are really good together. I loved their antics. They act entirely differnt when they are in the same room. Caro is more carefree and funny around him. They have a special relationship.
  Oh and we get to know the new Prodigies, where is a serious lack of capability for leadership. There is Brann, the snob man-whore, but at least he is strong and has brain. Aria is lacking in self respect and London is a perfect bait if you running from wild animals. They have room to learn. I don't like them as much as I liked the previous quartet but during the story they grow upon you.
  Last but not least there is Leric, whom I don't know how to relate yet. He is inscrutable, I think he has some kind of ulterior motive but I'm not sure because sometimes he acts in favor of Caro and the others.

  As for a footnote I don't understand the importance of the first chapter. For me Isa involvement was a bit far-fetched. I just can't understand why was it needed from the story perspective. Especially since Caro being bisexual doesn't play a part in the plot after the first chapter. So Isa part was unnecessary aspect.

  I still like the series and looking forward to the next book. I hope we get to know a little bit much about Caro past and about her powers. I just hope that the idea behind the world stay enjoyable unlike other long serieses.