"Deserves a place on the keeper shelf!"

Jaenelle has become Queen of the Dark Court at Ebon Askavi. She controls, though her own strength and through her devoted Court, power unlike any witch ever has. Her rule is strict, and for those who wreak destruction in her Realms face harsh punishment, but beneath her hand the true meaning of what it is to be Blood is returning to the witches and their males.

Evil surrounds her on all sides, from all Realms. The Dark Priestess' poison has spread widely and infected many. The Realms are in chaos. Dorothea SaDiablo, Prince Daemon Sadi's former Queen, is in the Dark Priestess' hand and her lies bring Jaenelle her harshest confrontation yet: her family. They are still determined to believe that she is being manipulated, that she is being held captive by the Sadist and the Lord of Hell. When death strikes at the heart of Jaenelle's court, she knows that she cannot hold back the tides of change any longer.

The Blood must be cleansed. Setting into motion a daring plan that spells her own destruction, Jaenelle prepares to save the people and lands she loves so dearly. Those who love her, however, have their own plans. Jaenelle may yet be saved. but the cost will, inevitably, be high.

QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS is book 3 of Anne Bishop's Black Jewel trilogy. It is essential that the books in this trilogy be read in order. Though still sparkling with humor and well-characterized relationships, this last book of the trilogy is much darker than the first two. Bishop explores themes like self-sacrifice, duty and devotion in ways that are as emotionally charged as they are heart- wrenching. Characters that readers have come to know and love are injured-or worse. From darkness comes light, however, and the end of the story is as wonderful as its disparate parts. This book features the culmination of the romance between Daemon Sadi and Jaenelle (not as easy as they would like, to be sure!) and the revelation of some important truths about the world of the Blood. Readers will find themselves captivated by the inevitable, fulfilling and touching climax and wishing (unfortunately in vain) for just one more volume in this phenomenal series. A wonderful ending to a thrilling story, QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS earns the entire Black Jewels trilogy a deserved place on the keeper shelf.

NOTE: QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS, like its prequels, 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