Black Jewels Trilogy

Saetan SaDiablo and the daughter of his soul Jaenelle as sketched by Anna Leigh

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I do an in person book club with a couple of close friends in my area! It's really chill, super fun, and has helped keep me out of my reading slump!

I got to make a pick in January, and it was The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. This was my pick people I'm a sucker for controversy, and I had originally seen it listed on BookTok as something a famous book series plagiarized from. Now, I'm not going to talk here more on that because although I love drama, I don't like contributing towards it especially online. Personal friends get my unbridled thoughts. Also, because the author in question is quite divisive, I don't want to touch that with a ten foot pole.

What I do wanna talk on tough is how much I personally loved this book, and rated each book in the trilogy 5/5.

Now, before anyone takes my word for it, it is a VERY dark book that involves a lot of sexual trauma. So, check the trigger warnings. If you're unsure, you can always ask me too. I don't want to spend time on this blog talking about it. Once more, it can be extremely controversial, so I don't want to express my opinions in that matter. What I want to focus on is the writing and the overall dark whimsy of it.

3-in-one- copy of The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop with annotations

As you can see, I really enjoyed it.

I've been working on reading with intention to get my own writing up to speed. So, I liked a lot of lines, transitions, and character descriptions. I really found the way Anne Bishop dealt with the expanse of time within the series quite interesting, and the world building to be fascinating. I also really appreciated the gritty details, something that I understand not a lot of people like, but for myself, it was such a visceral reaction to characters and events that I've been missing from a lot of modern fantasy reads that shows the true extent of the horrors these fantasy, long livid creatures can do to each other. I found it refreshing in nostalgic sense. I don't know how else to explain it, but it had that late 80's, early 90's grim dark movie feel. Like Never Ending Story, the Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, where it edges on magic and whimsy and then soul shattering devastation. I can't express it, but I love things like this. Which book was written in 98, so I feel it was close enough still, right? Right?

1998...That would have made me 6! Little tiny me had no clue such a masterpiece existed! But adult me loves it and appreciates this book series!

It's inspired me, and I feel has improved my own writing.

What I found fascinating is how our protagonist Jaenelle didn't get a POV. Instead, the story is told through all the other characters and how their reaction towards her shapes the narrative. I feel it gave us her ethereal, dream like quality. As if she were something we could never fully reach or understand. Which, I feel added so much to her story and the story in general.

When I was thinking about my own writing and the god characters I have, I realized this would have been such a fun way to traverse the narrative. And in a way, I have a similar aspect, but not completely. But it set in my mind to be more focused on the POV's I use, and how I can use the characters to shape the narrative as well. Because what was also used really well in this series was the way an unreliable narrator can shape the perspectives. This came in the form of our antagonist, but still made it very fun! Almost to the point I was screaming, "No! Don't listen to that evil bitch!" So, that's another really fun aspect I took away from that series.

I'm disappointed there isn't more fan art, or content within the fandom. I mean, its older, so I guess that makes sense. But here are some sketches of the characters! Daemeon is my favorite, followed by Saetan, Lucivar, followed by Jeanelle! The Triangle! (You'd have to read it to understand)

I'd like to work on a full fledged illustration.

Once that's done, I'm not sure about selling prints. I go back and forth on selling prints of fan art. Some say it's illegal, but I see so many people doing it, so IDK! But, I might add it to a quarterly reward or something. I gotta figure something out.

Anyways, that's my rant!

Next trilogy we're reading has me SUPER excited, because talk about FORMATIVE!

Inkheart

The Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funk! OMG When I tell you, this story GRIPPED me as a youth! I loved it so much! I'm beyond excited to read it again! And, I fear, Dustfinger may have started my love for traumatized redheads now that I think about it. Oh man.

Anyways, I can't tell if this is a printed on signature, or if this is real. I got this book second hand, so Idk!

OH! Also!

I'm reading Sara Bittners The Assassin's Revenge for Indie Book Club!! Be sure to join Discord if you wanna chat about indie books! :D