Renee's Book Addiction

Amy & Renee chat about . . . The Shadow Queen

June 4, 2009 at 3:00 am 18 comments

For ages (well, months, actually) Amy, from Romance Book Wyrm, and I have been wanting to do something together. We both love fantasy, romance, and fantasy-romance. So, when Anne Bishop’s new Black Jewels Novel came out, it was clear which book we would read and chat about!

The Shadow Queen (A Black Jewels Novel) by Anne Bishop

Here is the book description:

Dena Nehele is a land decimated by its past. Once it was ruled by corrupt Queens who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now, only one hundred Warlord Princes stand — without a leader and without hope. Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to find the key that reveals a treasure great enough to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who remembers the Blood’s code of honor and lives by the Old Ways. The woman chosen to rule Dena Nehele, Lady Cassidy, is not beautiful and believes she is not strong. But she may be the only one able to convince bitter men to serve once again.

Renee: So, Amy, why did you want to read this book? Did it fulfill your expectations?

AmyC: The reason for wanting to read this book is quite simple, Anne Bishop wrote it! I have read all her books. And it’s the next book in her Black Jewels world. I very much enjoyed Shadow Queen. Considering I read a few reviews before reading, it did meet my expectations regarding the lack of complete focus on a a new plot and new characters.

Renee: I’m also a fan of the Black Jewels trilogy. Anne Bishop’s world is so original and unique. What you say about reviewers have said about this book. I went into it completely ignorant of the “buzz” on the book. However, I had been really disappointed in Tangled Webs, the last book set in this world. I was really hopeful, though, for this one after reading the excerpt.

What did you think about the SaDiablo storyline?

AmyC: Parts of the SaDiablo storyline worked because it enhanced the main storyline between Cassidy and her relationship with Gray. I think it could have been cut short. There was a turn of events regarding Saetan toward the end that I thought strayed way too far. It really had nothing to do with any part of the story. I don’t think we needed to “see” Saetan in a situation like that. We know what he did if you read Dreams Made Flesh, and I think it was sufficient. I didn’t necessarily mind the added insight into Daemon and Jaenelle, but I would have preferrred it have been taken out of the story and added as a short bonus at the end. I just think carrying on with Daemon and Jaenelle the way it was done in this new set of books is taking away from the new characters that I found to be very intriguing.

Renee: I totally agree with you about the story line that deals with Daemon, Janelle and Saetan. While I was happy with an appearance, giving them such a prominent secondary storyline took away from page time which could have been used on the main characters. I liked that they were there as supporting cast, asking Cassidy to step in as Dena Nehele’s Queen and advising Theran and Grey. But, when they started having their own drama, I kept wanting to return to Cassidy.

And, yes, a short “bonus” story at the end that focused on this other SaDiablo story line would have been great!

AmyC: I loved the main storyline. All the gardening and working the earth totally worked for me! I really like the idea that these new Black jewels books are focusing on the after-affects of the devastation and cleansing of the Blood from the original trilogy. Seeing how Dena Nehele suffered and now is becoming whole once again. And I liked that it is connected to The Invisible Ring! You’re getting something new, yet you’re still with all the same characters you’ve grown to love over the years.

One thing that kinda bugged me was how the SaDaiblo’s treated Gray, Cassidy and Theran, like they were all children! The dinner scene was a bit much for me. I felt like I was reading about a couple of ten year olds trying to get along. But otherwise, I LOVED all the scenes with Cassidy and Gray, and cannot wait to read more about them in Shalador’s Lady.

Renee: I also loved that sense of rebuilding, after the events of the trilogy. Cassidy’s and Gray’s connection to the earth and how intrinsic it was to the rebuilding of society was very cool. I actually missed reading The Invisible Ring (which concerns events in Dena Nehele a few generations earlier when Dorothea was still in power.) But now, after reading The Shadow Queen, I totally want to get it, though it’ll probably be in audiobook, since I’m really curious about how it will work in that format.

You know, the paternalistic attitude toward Gray, Cassidy and Theran didn’t really bother me. I think that’s mostly because the entire world is really hierarchical, both with regards to the Blood’s relation to the Landens and in turn the Blood’s relation to the Queens (and then Janelle as WITCH and Saetan as the High Lord of Hell.)

AmyC: I see where you’re coming from and it was pretty much the dinner scene that made me think more into other scenes. Before the dinner scene I hadn’t given it much thought, I don’t know, something about that scene that just rubbed me the wrong way !

Renee: However, I never completely bought Cassidy and Gray’s romance 100%. Part of that was that they simply didn’t have enough page time together. If there had been 100 more pages, focusing on them, I’d have been much happier. Especially, because I really did like Cassidy’s struggle to become Queen of Dena Nehele and win the hearts of her court. But also, while I liked Grey, I never really bought him as a hero. And, he’s totally a tortured hero (one of my favorite hero-types,) having been kept for 2 years by some of Dorothea’s Queens, and tortured/traumatized so badly he’s been emotionally and psychologically stunted to the age of an adolescent. It’s wonderful how he blossoms with Cassidy, while they work together in the garden. But the romance would have worked for me so much more if there had been more time with them as he heals and “grows up”. We didn’t really get to see him (or them together) in that “after” portion, which I really needed for the romance aspect of the book.

I’m really not unhappy with the book, I just wish there was more of it, I guess, because so much of it really worked for me.

Actually, to me the most interesting character (after Cassidy) was Theran. I really thought he was going to be the hero for a lot of it. He was such a prickly guy, who kept making an ass of himself, yet I understood where he was coming from. His guilt and sense of responsibility toward Gray, and feelings of failure and frustration for his land really made me want to see him grow and mature as a character. I really really hope we get to see more of him in the next book.

All in all, while I had some issues with The Shadow Queen, it was a definite “thumbs up” for me. A real return to what I really love about the Black Jewels novels.

Do you know what the next one, Shalador’s Lady is going to be about?

AmyC: I’m figuring the relationship between Cassidy and Gray isn’t over yet. I assume that Shalador’s Lady will explore more into what started between them. I think this is going to be another trilogy based around Cassidy and the rebuilding of Dena Nehele, as well as the relationship with her and Gray. And since I figure this book only touched on the relationship between Cassidy and Gray, I don’t feel like there was anything missing. I really enjoyed the innocent scenes between them in the gardens! There is still a lot of healing for Gray and I think we’ll see much more of that in the next book. I believe Gray is much more important. I think he is going to be part of her first circle as her consort. But he has to heal more first, before he can take on that responsibility. I had a feeling the whole time reading that Theran would not retain his position as first escort once the year agreement expires. That’s my hopes anyway . I don’t know what is going to happen, but I feel something is going to change within the structure of Cassidy’s first circle to allow Gray to take the position of Consort.

I’m really curious to see what Shalador’s Lady will be about. I can speculate. The Shalador people have been repressed for I don’t know how long, so Cassidy will have that to deal with and their healing. I don’t recall if in The Invisible Ring there was mention of the Shaladors being forced to live on reserves and why. Definitely going to reread that one soon!

One thing I’m not sure about is where this new series is going, other than the healing of Dena Nehele. In the original trilogy it was all about Jaenelle and her being Witch and her coming of age to bring the Old Ways back to the land. It was powerful and unforgettable. I didn’t gather anything powerful building in this one, so I wonder where it’s headed.

Overall, I agree with you, a great start to a likely new trilogy. I would say to keep that in mind, this book is just the first one. So if things didn’t feel like there was enough, it will likely be explored more in the next few books. What I do hope for in Shalador’s Lady is to stay more focused on the new characters and let the original ones take a firm back seat! As much as I love them, their place is in the original trilogy, and one that will likely ALWAYS be my favorite trilogy! I don’t want them to hinder and take away from some really great characters like Cassidy, Gray, Talon, Theran, Shira, and Ranon! Cassidy still has some personal healing and growing to do, as well as Gray and Theran. And I can’t wait to see more of it unfold in Shalador’s Lady.

Renee: Oh, I feel so much better now that you’ve said that! It makes a difference to know that this is the first book in a trilogy (like the Black Jewels Trilogy) and not just a stand alone novel set in the Black Jewels world (like Tangled Webs.) I totally didn’t realize that. I can be more patient since that’s the case, and hope there will continue to be some development for Gray!

I’ll also be looking forward to Shalador’s Lady, as book 2 of this new trilogy.

• Anne Bishop’s site
• Excerpt for The Shadow Queen.
• Anne Bishop also has an excellent, informative FAQ page about the very complex Black Jewels world.
  

It was so wonderful to chat with someone who is so knowledgeable about this series.

Thanks, Amy!

Entry filed under: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Joint review. Tags: AmyC, Anne Bishop, Black Jewels novel, Romance Book Wyrm, The Shadow Queen.