Shalador's Lady
by Anne Bishop
Series: The Black Jewels #8
Published on March 2nd, 2010
by Roc
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Amazon | B&N | BookDepository | Goodreads
Also by this author: The Black Jewels Trilogy, The Invisible Ring, The Shadow Queen, Written in Red, Murder of Crows
Return to the "intense...erotic...and imaginative" world of the national bestselling Black Jewels novels with this sequel to The Shadow Queen. In Anne Bishop's "vividly painted" realm, witches and warlocks channel their power through magical jewels - and one Queen has emerged from the shadows to bring hope to an impoverished people.
For years the Shalador people suffered the cruelties of the corrupt Queens who ruled them, forbidding their traditions, punishing those who dared show defiance, and forcing many more into hiding. And even though the refugees have found sanctuary in Dena Nehele, they have never been able to call it home.
Now that Dena Nehele has been cleansed of tainted Blood, the Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, makes it her duty to restore the land and prove her ability to rule. She knows that undertaking this task will require all her heat and courage as she summons the untested power within her, a power capable of consuming her if she cannot control it.
And eve if Lady Cassidy survives her trial by fire, other dangers await. For the Black Widows see within their tangled webs vision of something coming that will change the land - and Lady Cassidy - forever.
Shalador’s Lady starts where The Shadow Queen ended and we get to see more of Cassie and her court. Which I loved of course! It was so much fun reading how good of a Queen Cassie really is and kind and generous as a person she is as well. I know I’ve said it before but Cassie is one of my favourite Queens in the Black Jewels World, not even Jaenelle can compare to her.
I loved the fact that we got to see a lot more of the males in Cassie’s court as well as their ineractions with her. One of the biggest character growths were Ranon and Gray in my opinion. Both of these Warlord Princes grew so much during the story. I especially loved how Ranon stepped up to the plate and became such wonderful friend to Cassie, and also all the things he did for Cassie and Court. And Gray, well he finally grew up! The reason is that he loved Cassie so much he shook off the sking of boyhood and became a man in order to be with her. I loved how their relationship build up as grew became the man he was supposed to be, before he was tortured. As for Theran, god my dislike for him gained new heights as I read this book, he is just such a spoiled brat! I really hated how he acted towards Cassie when Kermilla came to the stage. It was so infuriating how he talked down to her and tried to block her from doing any good for his people, eventhough that was the exact reason she’s even there. And then we have Kermilla, really, Cassie’s court should have killed her when they got the chance. I hated her the moment we met her in the book. She’s so fake and spoiled, and she causes nothing but trouble for Cassie from the moment she arrived until she left again.
As for the story, what can I say, Anne Bishop is just an incredible writer, who knows exactly how to make her story go to make them exciting, sad, funny and sexy at the same time. I really loved reading how Cassie and her Court moved to Eyota, after Theran was such a jerk to her and how she implemented changes that caused ripples throughout Dena Nehele. I loved how she put so much effort into making the people’s lives easier and I loved the friendship between Gray and Daemon and it was so cute when Seatan told Gray to calle him “uncle Saetan”. I loved the Scelties and how they integrated themselves into the lives of the Shaladoran people in Eyota. Even the part where Cassie fought back against Kermilla to keep her Territory by seperating a part of the land and creating a new Territory called Shalador Nehele, was amazing. And I loved the ending with Cassie and Gray’s wedding and to see Theran being bossed around by Lady Rahn, a Green-Jewelen Sceltie Queen and Vae’s aunt.
So for all the above reason, I’m giving this book 4 stars! Loved it and I will re-read it!
I use most of my free time doing either of those three things. When I'm not reading, writing or gaming, then I'll go watch movies with my best friend, Bee or I'll treat myself to dinner at a fancy restaurant.
- {Movie Madness} Power Rangers (2017) // It’s Morphin’ Time!! - April 22, 2017
- {Effie Reviews} Death’s Queen by Janael Falor - April 9, 2017
- {Blog Tour ~ Effie Reviews} A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi - April 2, 2017
Leave a Reply