Review: The Shadow Queen

This is the one that came to mind while I was at work, so this is what I’m reviewing first.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: Cassidy is a Rose-jeweled Queen without a court. Theran is a Green-jeweled Warlord Prince without a Queen. Gray is a Purple-Dusk Warlord Prince who has been damaged to the point of near collapse.

These three players make up The Shadow Queen as they are thrown together by Jaenelle Angelline, Witch and Kaeleer’s Queen (though she resists the title).

Disappointed by Cassidy’s lowly jewel and unattractive appearance, Theran is an ass. I could give you all the background as to why he is an ass, but that’s why you should read the book. For now, for my review, he’s just an ass. He puts up with Cassidy because Witch chose her and to refuse is to piss off Witch’s husband, Daemon (Scary! Sexy!), her brother, Lucivar (Scary! Sweet! Sexy!), and her father, Saetan.

Gray sees something in Cassidy that heals parts of him that everyone thought broken, and Gray begins to wake. Cassidy is given duties that she’s been trained for all her life, and begins to grow in confidence.

Theran remains an ass until the last page. Some redemption is found, but not enough to take away the ass title.

Add in some byplay between Daemon, Daddy Saetan and Lucivar, and the book rocked.

Opinion: Let’s start this off right - I am a huge fan of the Black Jewels books. I picked them up about a year ago when another blog I read recommended them, and stayed up all night reading them. They were that compelling.

That being said, there are strong Black Jewels books and there are weaker ones. The Shadow Queen is definitely stronger. It develops the relationships between Jaenelle, Daemon, Saetan and Luciver as well as brings out new characters and plot lines in Cassidy, Theran and Gray. I’ve heard through the online grapevine that there will be another book next year called Shalador’s Lady and it will continue the storyline of The Shadow Queen, and I can’t wait.

It also answers a question of mine, which is what happens now? The bad Blood have been taken care of, but what about what’s left? What’s Terreille going to be like now? How are the Blood left going to cope?

The Shadow Queen begins to answer those questions in a compelling and sweet look at the relationships that the males in the book have with the females. It really all comes down to that.

That all said, I could have used a bit more action - there was no real antagonist, other than the internal struggles of the main characters. I would have liked a bit more plot to hold up all the internal rumblings of the characters.

Also, I am quite the Lady Vae fan. Foolish sheep. *smile*