"HEIR TO THE SHADOWS is book 2 of Anne Bishop's Black Jewel trilogy"

Jaenelle Angelline has survived experiences that would break most children, and shatter most young witches, but not without consequences. As the fallout from the destruction of Briarwood settles, life changes for not only young Jaenelle, but also for Saetan, the dead Guardian who has decided to adopt her. The friends that Jaenelle has gathered from all across the Realms appear at the doorstep of SaDiablo hall, determined to find her-and some of those friends are far different than even those Saetan's wide imagination could come up with.

The years pass, and it becomes clear that evil still threatens Jaenelle, her friends and family, and the Realms that they live in. Evil more ancient and jealous than Jaenelle could know.

Between lessons and friendship Jaenelle and her foster father deal with a Council bent on separating them, an evil that is seeping deeper and deeper into the Realm's governments, and the loss of Daemon, son to Saetan, more, perhaps, to Jaenelle. Events conspire against them all and Jaenelle is forced to take steps she would rather not. Only with her friends-her Court-around her can she begin to prepare for the fight that is coming.

HEIR TO THE SHADOWS is book 2 of Anne Bishop's Black Jewel trilogy. It is essential that the books in this trilogy be read in order. The story starts soon after the events of book 1, with the same attention to characterization and worldbuilding. The hallmarks of this volume are the humor-filled, loving relationship between Jaenelle and her foster-father and the pervasive tension over the fate of Daemon, hung tenuously until the novel winds to a close. For a middle volume of a trilogy, HEIR is spectacular. Bishop pens a light-hearted and sometimes emotionally wrenching bridge through her shadowed story, pulling together characters and events and setting the stage for what promises to be a strong conclusion. If you've read and enjoyed the first of this trilogy HEIR is a sure-buy. If you're interested in the trilogy, begin at the first volume and work from there.

NOTE: HEIR TO THE SHADOWS, like its prequel and sequel, contains scenes and depictions that sensitive readers might find might objectionable, including but not limited to references to child and animal abuse, torture and graphic death scenes.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted April 2, 2004