Book Review - The Shadow Queen

At one time, I used Myspace on a somewhat regular basis and posted blogs and comments as the whim took me. Along with these were review on books I read, since I tend to read a great deal. I've decided to start doing those again, here instead of on Myspace since it sits unused these days, and I will probably look at transferring some of those previous writings here.

I guess that, besides just wanting to share the enjoyment of a book, I hope sometimes that the reviews will help others find new stories and authors and their own enjoyment of them.

Now, that being said, I just completed a new book from one of my favorite authors.

In her initial series, known as The Black Jewels trilogy, Anne Bishop created a deeply fascinating world where power, good or bad, is classified by darkness instead of light, where those with Power are wrapped in a heavily detail dance of caste and Protocol and they are meant to be care takers of the land and all those that live in it. Of course, sometimes things go wrong and what was once good is corrupted and tainted by those wishing to warp it for their own pleasure.

That series details the hope for things to be cleansed and put right. The book I just finished, The Shadow Queen, takes place two years after the events of the first series and shows the effects and how people react. Left to pick up the pieces of their world, the people of a Territory called Dena Nehele have to rebuild their lives and make choices they haven't been given in many, many generations. And they need a leader, a Queen who is strong and just and cares about the land and its people, who can help lead them back to a better time.

As beautifully written as her others books, The Shadow Queen was difficult to put down. While many of the favorite characters from the trilogy were very present, they were not the main focus but the story was just as captivating. Also, this book works incredibly well because it ties in with another book written as a prequel to the trilogy, The Invisible Ring, and shows what has become of the land and the descendants of those depicted in THAT book.

Everything ties together so beautifully and the whole series is very much worth a read. This book just adds another beautifully written piece to an already amazing story puzzle.

As a final word, I would say have a look at the other books that this author has written as well. Her House of Gaian trilogy and Landscapes of Ephemera duology are just as amazing. I really can't say enough good about her and I look forward to more books from Anne Bishop; she can't put them out fast enough for my liking!