Shalador’s Lady (A Black Jewels Novel #8) by Anne Bishop
Fantasy
March 2, 2010
Hardcover
Roc
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “It is better to break you own heart then to break your honor.”
Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop is the 8th book in her Black Jewels series. It is also the sequel to her 7th book, The Shadow Queen. I adore the Black Jewels series. A deliciously dark and traumatic series that celebrates the triumph of evil. Unequivocal world building sustained by dramatic and inspiring characters has gained this series it’s own keeper shelf. I would not recommend reading these out of order. The arc carries over and feeds itself through each book.
In Shalador’s Lady we see Lady Cassidy growing into herself and slowing bringing life back to a land and the people of Dena Nehale; destroyed by the previous Queens. When an enemy from Cassie’s past returns to try and once again to stake a claim on Cassie’s court, Cassie will have to fight for the land, the people, and her love to survive.
Shalador’s Lady is relatively light in comparison to previous books in the series. However the lush world building and dialogue is still as intense and soul grabbing. Ms. Bishop’s smooth lyrical prose saturates you while the fast pacing of the story line has you completely vested in the outcome.
Lady Cassie is forging the bonds between herself and her First Court. Though the Warlord Princes are understandably tense and unsure, Lady Cassie slowly wins them over with her courage and determination to be the best Queen for them. Lord Theron Grayhaven, her First Escort, still harbors resentment towards Lady Cassie as she is not the queen he envisioned for his people. This creates a palpable tension between them. One that Lady Cassie cannot mend. When Queen Kermilla arrives in “friendship” Lady Cassie’s already shaky self confidence takes a beating when Lord Theron accepts Lady Kermilla and makes noise that she is what he deems the true Queen of Dena Nehele. As Lady Cassie begins to relive the previous betrayal caused by Lady Kermilla and her court rallies around her and new interesting “friends” appear to help Lady Cassie become the Queen she was meant to be.
I adore the new characters we have been introduced to. As three dimensional and endearing as our old friends, they provide us with new situations, outcomes, and emotional bonding. Cassie is a wonderful heroine in that Bishop doesn’t make her the perfect Queen. She truly loves the people and her court but she has issues. Cassie evolves slowly but strong as she deals with the changes occurring in her court. Gray, Jared Blaed, make great strides in over coming his past and becoming the man he should have been before he was broken by the diabolical queens of the past.
I can’t say enough about the Scelties. Called kindred, they are animals who are endowed with magic and hold rank as the humans. They provide much laughter and healing in this story. We see a lot of Jaenelle, Daemon, and the rest of the former high court of Ebon Askavi. They provide much needed support, advice and behind the scenes help.
Theran was hard for me. While I wanted to kick him in the arse quite a few times, I also felt sorry for him. You have to feel a bond with your Queen. A bond that allows you to love and want to serve them. He never had that bond with Cassie and when Kermilla appears, he honestly does what he feels is right.
The ending isn’t dramatic in a sense of climatic action, but more so from an emotional stand point. Everyone has to face their own fears and choose to live or lie down. Its a sweet ending that fit Cassie’s character to a tee. All in all a wonderful and fitting addition to the Black Jewels world and I look forward to the 9th book in this series, Twilight’s Dawn.
Rating: A
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I want my own Kindred!
KB-Dude, me too.
So many series. *sigh* This sounds really good. I guess it can't be read as stand alone though?
FV-You could read this as a stand alone if you read The Shadow Queen first. But honestly, the Black Jewels series is so fabulous your missing out by not starting at the beginning.
March 17, 2011 10:18 AM
I love this series myself, been thinking it is time for a re-read (again).
Ohhhh an A Tori! I definitely have to look into this Black Jewels series, if you say it's good, then I know I need to read it:) I love that this book seems to have a lot of interesting and well developed characters outside of the hero and heroine:)
Aurian-I re read this series all the time.
Jenny-I really think you would like it. It's very sensual, traumatic, tense, horrifying,angering, yet forgiving. The first 3 are the most explicit. I cry and have to recover every time I read them. LOL Only because I love the characters so much.
I am still afraid to read book 1 and more ….silly I know
Blodeuedd-You skerred? No way.
I'm this close *pinches fingers* to reading this series – the whole fantasy genre intimidates me.
Smokinhotbooks-SQUEE!! Have you had that baby yet?? You would like this. You'll def love Sadi & Prick. So smexy & hot!!
Alright Tori. I cannot TELL you how many times I have almost started this series but have heard that it is heavy on the emotions. I have been really scared to start it, but after this review. Damn and double damn! I guess I need to start it sooner than later ;)
Thanks for the great review!
I can't tell you how many times I've reread The Shadow Queen and Shalador's Lady. I absolutely adore them and the series as a whole is just fucking awesome.
SpazP-Srsly, you would love it. Yes, it's emotional but it reads fast and you will find yourself unable to stop.
Kris-You took the words right out of my mouth. Have you read her EPHEMERA series? I love that one too.
Tori, yep, I have. Sebastian is one of my guys at DIK. I <3 him.
Anne Bishop is a fabulous author.
I will still need years till I write half as good as her.
This is really a must-have book.