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auntieerrica's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
aft888's review against another edition
5.0
TW: rape, sexual assault
The first part of the book was very jumbled and seemed incoherent, but it got very sad and dark at the very end. I'll definitely be reading the second, but this book is pretty messed up
The first part of the book was very jumbled and seemed incoherent, but it got very sad and dark at the very end. I'll definitely be reading the second, but this book is pretty messed up
keberwick's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not what I was expecting at all. It was amazing, but it was also incredibly dark and twisted and perverted. I will read the rest of the series but I can't help but feel slightly off after reading it.
momosaurus's review against another edition
1.0
I really enjoyed the author's The Others book series and was a bit lost while waiting for the last book in the series to drop. So, to fill the void, I read this book hoping I could latch on to another series afterwards. Yeeaaah, this book is definitely not what I needed nor what I wanted.
I couldn't get into the story even as I finished reading last page. It was just too much to take in all at once and without the benefit of any likable characters. Not to mention it's sordid society and the jewels with it's order and rank. Something akin to being thrust into the sea and expected to grow gills and webbed feet and swim with sewage.
I couldn't get into the story even as I finished reading last page. It was just too much to take in all at once and without the benefit of any likable characters. Not to mention it's sordid society and the jewels with it's order and rank. Something akin to being thrust into the sea and expected to grow gills and webbed feet and swim with sewage.
justonebubble's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rumandkoolaid's review against another edition
3.0
I love Anne Bishops other series but I’m not sure I will love this as much. I spent the first half of the book having no idea what the hell was going on or who anyone was. It finally started to get easier when it really narrowed the focus to primarily just a few characters and not all of the side characters. The world could be interesting, but it is really hard to piece it all together and figure out how it works. It’s confusing but had moments of being good.
mazzreads86's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It's tough to review this book, I have read the entire Black Jewels series and so my opinion of this first book is coloured by my thoughts on the entire series.
There is definitely some major content warnings that readers need to be aware of ahead of time, and I think that they are somewhat reflective of the time it was written (late 90's) - not to say that rape, sexual assualt, and paedophilia weren't a big deal at the time, but that writers weren't as aware of how problematic including those topics in their books could be.
I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 18 to read, and would make sure to warn anyone that there are some quite graphic descriptions included, I definitely skip over those sections when I reread.
Getting past all that, the basic story is really interesting and the characters are wonderful, especially as you move in to the next 2 books and beyond (one of my favourite characters is introduced in book 2 - kiss kiss!). I think that Jaenelle & Daemon's relationship is actually the least interesting/likeable, and is somewhat problematic, but the rest are fantastic.
There is definitely some major content warnings that readers need to be aware of ahead of time, and I think that they are somewhat reflective of the time it was written (late 90's) - not to say that rape, sexual assualt, and paedophilia weren't a big deal at the time, but that writers weren't as aware of how problematic including those topics in their books could be.
I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 18 to read, and would make sure to warn anyone that there are some quite graphic descriptions included, I definitely skip over those sections when I reread.
Getting past all that, the basic story is really interesting and the characters are wonderful, especially as you move in to the next 2 books and beyond (one of my favourite characters is introduced in book 2 - kiss kiss!). I think that Jaenelle & Daemon's relationship is actually the least interesting/likeable, and is somewhat problematic, but the rest are fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
savaril's review against another edition
Far to many intrusive thoughts from a 1700 year old man towards a 12 year old girl for my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Slavery
theportsmouth_pageturner's review against another edition
1.0
Another book I am giving up on, I’m over 100 pages in and I’m not really sure what’s happening??? The world building is almost non-existent, I have absolutely no idea how anyone is related/knows each other and I’ve seen a few content spoilers that have put me off reading any further (paedophilia anyone?) at some point we skipped 5 years into the future and the names Daemon and Saetan are the most unimaginative names I’ve ever seen.
Also Ring of Obedience?
Also Ring of Obedience?
rvmama's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book hard to get into, but as I got into it, I couldn't put it down. This is a dark world, with beautiful light in it. Can't wait for book 2.