Shaky start, but fantastic finale

This is a trilogy that turned into a full-on series, and it took me 2 novels to warm up to Anne Bishop’s THE BLACK JEWELS world, so after finally getting my ah-ha moment, I will be stopping here. Yes, the next installments have the potential to be even better, but they could also be a return to books 1 & 2, and I don’t care for those odds. Anyway, I really did enjoy QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS; Daemon at long last stepped into his role as consort, Jaenelle showed the Blood who’s boss, and other characters such as Lucivar & Saetan got their happy ending.

Angelline is now the undisputed Queen of Queens, although not everyone has accepted that fact yet, namely her wayward family because she hasn’t fully demonstrated what she’s capable of. That being said, I found it odd that she sat on the bench for the first quarter of this story. I went into this title thinking that it was her time to rule, and that that aspect was going to be this volume’s focal point. The author does get there eventually, and it is one of the best parts, but still I was expecting something a little flashier.

I was so very happy when Jaenelle & Daemon’s relationship made it to the romantic stage that I think that I may have whooped out loud. However, given both of their pasts (i.e Angelline’s history of rape and Sadi’s years as a pleasure slave), I’d envisioned lengthy dialogue between them prior to the two jumping in the sack together. There was a fair share of tiptoeing and doubt, yet once they admitted their feelings for each other they didn’t leave the bedroom for days. It was just too all-or-nothing. I personally appreciate the in-between stuff.

As with the writing, it also took me several novels to come to terms with John Sharian’s narration, and not because he doesn’t have the voice for it, but rather due to the age and gender of the heroine. The cast is primarily male, so from a purely logistics perspective it made sense. Nevertheless, he really let loose for the conclusion! He matched Daemon’s sadistic nature in both emotion and intensity, and the execution of Jaenelle’s master plan just wouldn’t have been the same without his delivery.

QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS made me understand what everyone’s been raving about!

6 people found this helpful

Enthralling

I recommend this book and the Black Jewels series to anyone who likes well written fantasy. You won't be disappointed. I waited until the whole series (to date) was released in audio and started with book 1 (recommended) and listened to all of the books in order. I was absolutly enthralled. Anne Bishop just became my favorite author.
John Sharian is outstanding as a narrator of this series. He does a wonderful job with all of the different voices/characters but deserves special notice for his depiction of the High Lord and Daemon. Thanks for this great audio production!!

5 people found this helpful

A Thrilling Romp

Would you listen to Queen of the Darkness again? Why?

I've listened to this book a few times. The pacing is excellent, and there is never a dull moment. The reading is beautifully done, able to capture the extreme yin and yang of Bishop's books.

2 people found this helpful

One of my favorite trilogies ever brought to life!

Anne Bishop has a talent for taking societal “norms” & turning them inside out, upside down & every “witch” way but loose. There isn’t an author who comes even close to her unique style. Hearing these beloved characters brought to life has given me many hours of joy & turned the dreaded 3 hr round trip commute to work into something I look forward to instead of dread. Ride my bike? With this trilogy loaded on my phone? You betcha - I’m ready! If you’ve read the series & liked it you’ll like the audible version. If you haven’t read it - no worries. You’ll enjoy it for the 1st time!

1 person found this helpful

Amazing!

I could listen to this book over and over and over. In fact, I have. This is the 4th time I have listened to this series and I love it every time.

1 person found this helpful

LOVE LOVE LOVE

If you could sum up Queen of the Darkness in three words, what would they be?

Sexy, Enchanting and Addicting

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character by far is Surreal SaDiablo. She is a strong female who is witty and says pretty much what she want to who she wants. I love all the characters in the books but she is my favorite.

Which character – as performed by John Sharian – was your favorite?

Daemon Sadi by far. John Sharian did a great job with all the characters in the book but it seemed that he was able to put more emotion into the part of Daemon.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There are several moments that moved me in the book. When Daemon went to rescue his brother and father from Dorothea and Hekatah and had to torcher Lucivar like he did. I almost cried when Daemon fail to his knees and screamed when he thought he had lost Jeanelle after her decent.

Any additional comments?

I have read all these books and I loved them but being able to listen to them gives the story more life. John Sharian did a fantastic job with the books and I can not wait to listen to the rest.

1 person found this helpful

Very well Done

I was very satisfied with how the series worked out. This was a very imaginative and interesting series. The morality of how things worked out is very dicey I think, but I applaud the author because it made me think about it. The narrator is excellent and this is well worth the download.

3 people found this helpful

Adventures in Darker Realms

This novel had several things I had been waiting for in this series and true to her year-skipping-form, Anne Bishop delivers the reader right into the middle of a story that continued on from the last book without many glimpses back at what happened while we were gone. Without seeing that beginning, I felt like I missed out on a few things, but they were not as important as the real purpose of this glimpse in time so it didn't bother me. However, a few moments - that had an agonizing build up since first book hinted at them - seemed to fall short once they finally happened. A reunion of such magnitude could have used another page or two, I think. Instead, a few sweet moments seemed rushed to make room for more epic story.

The epic story however is wonderfully done, providing a scope of detail that relies heavily on the first two novels for backstory. I will admit the characters seemed to rely too heavy on their previous appearances, and because of this they lost a bit of their rich depth. Satan, Daemon, and even Janelle seemed to be more simple in their existance, as well as their enemies, making Lucivar shine through more than anyone else. It's for this and what I mentioned above that I took a star away from what could have been a 5 star book.

That aside, I gobbled this novel up, even sneaking listens at work. It's always fun to see an enemy get whats coming to them. The book's ending leaves the reader/listener totally curious about the outcome after the climactic events that it ended on, and as I write this, I'm downloading the next book.

Fun read. Highly recommended to listeners who have heard the first two. 4 stars.

1 person found this helpful

outstanding

it was hard to pause and I look forward to the others in the series

still great

always love the series. still not a huge fan of the narrator, but the book makes up for it.