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The Black Jewels #6
Tangled Webs
New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop returns to the “bewitching” world of the Black Jewels with a tale that will “leave readers’ hearts pounding” (Publishers Weekly). The invitation was signed Jaenelle Angelline, she who had been both Witch and Queen... Surreal SaDiablo, the former courtesan and assassin, is the first to arrive—only to find herself trapped in a nightmare created by the tangled webs of Black Widow witches. And if she uses Craft to defend herself, she risks being sealed in the house forever. Now, Jaenelle and her family must rescue Surreal and the others inside without becoming trapped themselves—and uncover the monsters capable of designing such an evil place...Includes the Black Jewels short story “By The Time The Witchblood Blooms”
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2008
217 people are currently reading
5843 people want to read
About the author
Anne Bishop
51 books10.7k followersAnne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. She has written a new series, the Others, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.
Crawford Award (2000)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Crawford Award (2000)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
July 24, 2019
There is a note to the readers that I think sets up this story beautifully.
It lets you know where to set your expectation level right off the bat. This story does not have the big bad of the past, but that doesn’t mean that there are no dangers for our beloved characters.
This reminds me of a Halloween story, so much so I thought that it should have been released in October for sure.
Life is settling in after the events of Queen of Darkness. Jaenelle is healed and up to a few shenanigans again. It seems the Landon children have some funny misconceptions of who/what the Blood are and how they live. These have been amplified by a writer, who believes he is blood but didn’t grow up in that world so he gets most of the details in his stories hilariously wrong.
I swear I’ve had a very similar conversation with the hubs while reading some want-to-be-smut.
Enter Jaenelle who thinks that building a Spooky House for the kids to go through with some illusions and tricks in it that match the rumors be hilariously fun. I think she is the only one of the Blood that thinks this is a good idea, but she is Jaenelle and so her family goes along for the ride.
But what happens when the house that is supposed to be fun is set up as a labyrinth to trap the blood. While deadly games being played inside and a few of our favorite characters are trying to figure out how to get them and a few kids out alive.
Remember there aren’t rules against murder for the Blood, but there is always a price and someone will have to pay a big one before everything is said and done.
Dear Readers,
In the Realms of the Blood, the war has been fought, the battle has been won, and the epic tale has been told. But life goes on, so there are other challenges to face, smaller battles to be fought, and other stories to tell.
This is one of them.
It lets you know where to set your expectation level right off the bat. This story does not have the big bad of the past, but that doesn’t mean that there are no dangers for our beloved characters.
This reminds me of a Halloween story, so much so I thought that it should have been released in October for sure.
Life is settling in after the events of Queen of Darkness. Jaenelle is healed and up to a few shenanigans again. It seems the Landon children have some funny misconceptions of who/what the Blood are and how they live. These have been amplified by a writer, who believes he is blood but didn’t grow up in that world so he gets most of the details in his stories hilariously wrong.
“When we have sex, does your penis weep with gratitude?”
A handful of answers flashed through his mind. If he said any of them, he would end up sleeping in the Consort’s room. Alone.
“In what context?” he asked.
She lowered the book. Since he’d acknowledged being awake, he raised his head and read the passage. Then he read it again.
“Sweetheart, if my penis ever does that, you will be the first to know. Not as my wife, but as a Healer.”
I swear I’ve had a very similar conversation with the hubs while reading some want-to-be-smut.
Enter Jaenelle who thinks that building a Spooky House for the kids to go through with some illusions and tricks in it that match the rumors be hilariously fun. I think she is the only one of the Blood that thinks this is a good idea, but she is Jaenelle and so her family goes along for the ride.
But what happens when the house that is supposed to be fun is set up as a labyrinth to trap the blood. While deadly games being played inside and a few of our favorite characters are trying to figure out how to get them and a few kids out alive.
Remember there aren’t rules against murder for the Blood, but there is always a price and someone will have to pay a big one before everything is said and done.
May 1, 2008
This book is a kind-of-but-not-really sequel to the trilogy in that it takes place after it, and I don't recommend reading it unless you've read the Black Jewels Trilogy. Obviously, it's not set on such an epic scale. The "plot" itself sounds rather silly: Surreal and her escort get trapped in a deadly(!) "spooky house" that was set up by a pompous writer who wants to get revenge on the SaDiablo family, and so, of course, Daemon and Lucivar have to do their "Evil Twin* Powers! Activate!" routine in order to get her out.
On a more serious note, it's really a story about what it mean to be Blood, and about some of the SaDiablo men's Issues. (Because there are very many.)
On a less serious note, read the book and marvel at Lucivar's awesomeness!
It was a fun, quick read, and for a while there, I couldn't put it down, but it kind of fizzled out at the end. Anne Bishop's bad guys are kind of underwhelming after a while. They're very easy to hate, which I guess is part of what makes the books fun. But, come on, how many tales about people exploding from sexual pleasure at the sight of Daemon and lazers shooting from Lucivar's eyes** do people need to hear before they realize that if you mess with the SaDiablo family, you're going to get your ass handed to you cheek by cheek, along with your other body parts. You'd think there would have been a memo going around by now.
Haha, this series makes me silly. I want more!
* And by "twins," I mean "half-brothers," but it just doesn't sound as cool.
** Kidding, kidding! He doesn't shoot lazers from his eyes. He shoots lazers from his hands.
On a more serious note, it's really a story about what it mean to be Blood, and about some of the SaDiablo men's Issues. (Because there are very many.)
On a less serious note, read the book and marvel at Lucivar's awesomeness!
It was a fun, quick read, and for a while there, I couldn't put it down, but it kind of fizzled out at the end. Anne Bishop's bad guys are kind of underwhelming after a while. They're very easy to hate, which I guess is part of what makes the books fun. But, come on, how many tales about people exploding from sexual pleasure at the sight of Daemon and lazers shooting from Lucivar's eyes** do people need to hear before they realize that if you mess with the SaDiablo family, you're going to get your ass handed to you cheek by cheek, along with your other body parts. You'd think there would have been a memo going around by now.
Haha, this series makes me silly. I want more!
* And by "twins," I mean "half-brothers," but it just doesn't sound as cool.
** Kidding, kidding! He doesn't shoot lazers from his eyes. He shoots lazers from his hands.
August 18, 2023
***100 Days of Summer 2023***
Reading prompt: Book that is sixth in a series
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 4
This series is so cheesy! Everyone roars and bellows. Lucivar rampages and Daemon lurks and threatens. Because they can, I guess.
I still can't parse the power dynamics in this world. The men claim to be scared of the witches, but also feel the need to protect them? If they are so badass why do they require assistance? It gets rather circular.
So, yet another melodramatic story line. A foolish man with a grudge sets up a “spooky house" with deadly traps built into it. Then he impersonates Jaenelle and sends invitations to her nearest and dearest. The first two of the Blood who arrive are fooled into entering the trap and then the game is afoot.
When all else fails, use a big stick. You needn't bother walking softly either. A fun read for an uncomfortably warm day.
Book number 501 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
Reading prompt: Book that is sixth in a series
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 4
This series is so cheesy! Everyone roars and bellows. Lucivar rampages and Daemon lurks and threatens. Because they can, I guess.
I still can't parse the power dynamics in this world. The men claim to be scared of the witches, but also feel the need to protect them? If they are so badass why do they require assistance? It gets rather circular.
So, yet another melodramatic story line. A foolish man with a grudge sets up a “spooky house" with deadly traps built into it. Then he impersonates Jaenelle and sends invitations to her nearest and dearest. The first two of the Blood who arrive are fooled into entering the trap and then the game is afoot.
When all else fails, use a big stick. You needn't bother walking softly either. A fun read for an uncomfortably warm day.
Book number 501 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
November 12, 2020
This is a book I have read many times, but have only got around to adding and reviewing now.
An invitation is sent to Surreal and other members of the SaDiablo family to attend a preview of a 'spooky house' entertainment that Jaenelle has been planning, but this one is not Jaenelle's spooky house and the intentions of the person who sent the invitation are deadly. When Surreal and her escort Rainier enter the house they get caught in a web of traps from which they are not intended to escape alive.
This is actually my favourite of the authors 'stand alone' books, (though to my mind it does not work especially well as a stand alone). Anne Bishop originally published The Black Jewels trilogy, which I read and adored (I still do) in which she creates a fascinating world wherin three realms are interconnected, in all three there are 'blood' born with powers that are enhanced with Jewels they receive through ceremony and which complement the power of the witch or warlord wearing them. In Tangled Webs we have two stories with Surreal, who we know well from the trilogy, as a primary character, the first story takes up most of the book, is set after the end of The Black Jewels trilogy and I have some doubts that anyone who had not read them would really get this novel. The second is a tiny story of an even which occurred many years before the trilogy and it makes a nice addendum to the main story.
It was great having Surreal as a main character and I liked that her secondary character was one we had encountered only peripherally before, it gave some space for character development an area that the author is not always that great with. Very much a light, fun read which I revisit on a regular basis.
An invitation is sent to Surreal and other members of the SaDiablo family to attend a preview of a 'spooky house' entertainment that Jaenelle has been planning, but this one is not Jaenelle's spooky house and the intentions of the person who sent the invitation are deadly. When Surreal and her escort Rainier enter the house they get caught in a web of traps from which they are not intended to escape alive.
This is actually my favourite of the authors 'stand alone' books, (though to my mind it does not work especially well as a stand alone). Anne Bishop originally published The Black Jewels trilogy, which I read and adored (I still do) in which she creates a fascinating world wherin three realms are interconnected, in all three there are 'blood' born with powers that are enhanced with Jewels they receive through ceremony and which complement the power of the witch or warlord wearing them. In Tangled Webs we have two stories with Surreal, who we know well from the trilogy, as a primary character, the first story takes up most of the book, is set after the end of The Black Jewels trilogy and I have some doubts that anyone who had not read them would really get this novel. The second is a tiny story of an even which occurred many years before the trilogy and it makes a nice addendum to the main story.
It was great having Surreal as a main character and I liked that her secondary character was one we had encountered only peripherally before, it gave some space for character development an area that the author is not always that great with. Very much a light, fun read which I revisit on a regular basis.
December 29, 2018
Everyone knows that Jaenelle and Marian have something spooky planned for Halloween so when the family all receive an invitation to the grand opening of a haunted house they don’t really question it. Not until Surreal, and her companion Rainier, find themselves trapped inside a house full of dangerous magical traps trying to keep a group of human children safe. This is a powerful trap but it failed to capture the entire family and now it’s up to Daemon and Lucivar to find a way to free the others.
I absolutely love Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series so it was fantastic to have another full length novel about the core group of characters from the original trilogy. This is quite different to the other novels in the series, the plot is more focused and there is less of the outside world than we’re used to but it still has all the fantastic character development you’d expect and I absolutely love getting the chance to spend time with all of these characters and seeing how they’re all getting on now.
There are so many wonderful moments in Tangled Webs showing the loving relationship between Daemon & Jaenelle, happily married Lucivar who dotes on his wife and child, the growing relationship between Daemon and his mother, Surreal slowly rebuilding her friendship with Daemon, and of course poor Saetan who is watching over his ever-growing family with love and bemusement. I could read about these characters every day and not get bored so I loved every minute of this book. There was enough tension and action to keep me hooked but really it’s the relationship development and getting to see these characters finally living their happily ever afters that I’m here for and I can’t get enough of that.
I absolutely love Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series so it was fantastic to have another full length novel about the core group of characters from the original trilogy. This is quite different to the other novels in the series, the plot is more focused and there is less of the outside world than we’re used to but it still has all the fantastic character development you’d expect and I absolutely love getting the chance to spend time with all of these characters and seeing how they’re all getting on now.
There are so many wonderful moments in Tangled Webs showing the loving relationship between Daemon & Jaenelle, happily married Lucivar who dotes on his wife and child, the growing relationship between Daemon and his mother, Surreal slowly rebuilding her friendship with Daemon, and of course poor Saetan who is watching over his ever-growing family with love and bemusement. I could read about these characters every day and not get bored so I loved every minute of this book. There was enough tension and action to keep me hooked but really it’s the relationship development and getting to see these characters finally living their happily ever afters that I’m here for and I can’t get enough of that.
September 3, 2013
This book will likely make little sense to anyone who hasn't read and loved the Black Jewels Trilogy but to someone, like me, who was obsessed with those books, this is a delicious treat.
Tbh, I view all the books Bishop wrote in the Jewels world after the Trilogy ended as the best kind of fanfiction - glimpses into the life of characters I feel too attached to part with even if I pick and choose what to insert into 'my' canon.
The plot is kinda slim - Surreal gets menaced by a creepy homicidal house, boo-hoo - but that is not why I read the book or why I loved it. No, what I needed and got from it was further glimpses into the lives of the SaDiablo family - from uberDaddy Saetan, to my OTP-to-end-all-OTPs Daemon and Jaenelle, to Lucivar, adorable with his wife and kid.
It's really great to see them all move on with their lives and heal from the wounds of their pasts - yet more issues are addressed and resolved (and let's face it, between Jeanelle, Daemon and Lucivar, there is not a happy childhood or functional past to be had, is there?)
So yes, there is a plot and a bad guy (who gets his comeuppance) but I read it for Saetan hiding from his high energy family by supposedly sorting 'priceless books,' Jeanelle dragging appalled to the roots of her neatfreak soul Marian into her haunted house idea, deadliest-person-ever Daemon getting milk from Tersa and drinking it because she is his mother and he loves her, Lucivar cuddling toddler Daemonar as he falls asleep in his arms, Jeanelle banishing Daemon's inner demons through being Jeanelle, Surreal trying to flip through her book pages to peek at the end, and Marian and Lucivar using chairs for other than G-rated purposes (and being so tender and trusting with each other, which is super awesome given their past).
So yes - a lovely little gift for the Trilogy fans.
Tbh, I view all the books Bishop wrote in the Jewels world after the Trilogy ended as the best kind of fanfiction - glimpses into the life of characters I feel too attached to part with even if I pick and choose what to insert into 'my' canon.
The plot is kinda slim - Surreal gets menaced by a creepy homicidal house, boo-hoo - but that is not why I read the book or why I loved it. No, what I needed and got from it was further glimpses into the lives of the SaDiablo family - from uberDaddy Saetan, to my OTP-to-end-all-OTPs Daemon and Jaenelle, to Lucivar, adorable with his wife and kid.
It's really great to see them all move on with their lives and heal from the wounds of their pasts - yet more issues are addressed and resolved (and let's face it, between Jeanelle, Daemon and Lucivar, there is not a happy childhood or functional past to be had, is there?)
So yes, there is a plot and a bad guy (who gets his comeuppance) but I read it for Saetan hiding from his high energy family by supposedly sorting 'priceless books,' Jeanelle dragging appalled to the roots of her neatfreak soul Marian into her haunted house idea, deadliest-person-ever Daemon getting milk from Tersa and drinking it because she is his mother and he loves her, Lucivar cuddling toddler Daemonar as he falls asleep in his arms, Jeanelle banishing Daemon's inner demons through being Jeanelle, Surreal trying to flip through her book pages to peek at the end, and Marian and Lucivar using chairs for other than G-rated purposes (and being so tender and trusting with each other, which is super awesome given their past).
So yes - a lovely little gift for the Trilogy fans.
May 9, 2024
{2,5 rounded down} A spooky house story, great for Halloween. It is difficult to write believable tales for OP characters in a balanced manner to keep things interesting and reasonable at the same time.
July 20, 2024
4,5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 15, 2011
Unlike the previous books this one doesn't have a complicated plot. It was actually quite silly and very used. Some crazy man thinks too much of himself and his arrogance and sense of self superiority lead him to take unreasonable revenge to the most powerful family in all realm. If you've read the first trilogy (not necessary to enjoy this particular book) you'll actually sympathize with the villain since it's painfully obvious what would happen to him once his own game caught up with him. I never once doubt that the villain will be begging for his own death at the end and this certainty might be enough for some readers to spoil the book but it didn't for me since it gave me doubts and mystery in other areas like who's -if any- is going to die. ^-^ That and the horror house theme is the silly part.
What I liked most in this installment is the extended and more elaborate show of the previous main characters' family interaction. I crave these things since very often a novel when it reach the HEA, an epilogue (If the writer is generous)isn't enough to tie up perhaps not the mystery but the emotional side. Esp. in a long series that you spent years to love the characters. Sometimes the few pages of HEA, after years of anticipation and thousands of pages of the heroes' trials and sufferings, doesn't feel very fair or enough. So, when neatly done (no matter how silly the plot is) I really appreciate follow ups like this.
The writing is good and even though the spooky house plot is like a borrowed b-horror movie, it's the family interaction that's the main attraction for this book.
What I liked most in this installment is the extended and more elaborate show of the previous main characters' family interaction. I crave these things since very often a novel when it reach the HEA, an epilogue (If the writer is generous)isn't enough to tie up perhaps not the mystery but the emotional side. Esp. in a long series that you spent years to love the characters. Sometimes the few pages of HEA, after years of anticipation and thousands of pages of the heroes' trials and sufferings, doesn't feel very fair or enough. So, when neatly done (no matter how silly the plot is) I really appreciate follow ups like this.
The writing is good and even though the spooky house plot is like a borrowed b-horror movie, it's the family interaction that's the main attraction for this book.
March 5, 2017
This book was sweet, but less engaging than a book about a haunted house made real should be. I love Anne Bishop and I loved the bits that were an insight into Jeweled family life, but the haunted house itself fell flat. Watch my video review
February 10, 2020
4.5 ⭐️
Trigger warnings: violence/murder, gore, PTSD, mentions of sexual assault
If you asked me why I love these books so much, I probably wouldn't be able to answer you. They're classist, cissexist, and the diversity rep is abysmal (yes, Rainier is gay, but everything else is so heteronormative it kinda becomes homophobic). Not to mention the fact that Daemon following Jaenelle's growth sounds a hell of a lot like predatory/grooming behaviour. Everything should lead me to hate this series. And yet...
I won't rant about how long it took for the action to start, because I was so damn happy to read about Daemon and Jaenelle's life. We finally got a bit of meat around that bone. A glimpse at their day-to-day routine after Jaenelle healed and I was smiling like a goddamn idiot in the metro because they're SO FRIGGIN' CUTE TOGETHER!!!! And Lucivar and Marian. And Saetan. My faves are all well and happy and it warms my heart too much to bitch about the lack of stakes for the first half of the book.
And then the entitlement of Jenkell is so realistic. This is how cis straight white men act when they write and think they're all that, but aren't really that good. And I bet Anne Bishop saw her fair share of assholes and took those experiences to create the asshole that is Jenkell. Which made me even happier when he got his ass handed to him by Daemon (because most of the main characters could have gotten their revenge on him, but nothing is sweeter than to have the bad guy dance with the Sadist).
This book was part mystery, part horror, part commentary on how authors research their novels and I loved every single second of it (though I could have done without the giggling spiders and the exploding beetles...).
I still don't know if I'll read the last 3 books in the series, even with the new one coming out. I love Jaenelle/Daemon (Jaemon? Daenelle?) too much to give up on them, though at the same time I kinda wanna see what the Queen of the Black Jewels comes up with next...
Trigger warnings: violence/murder, gore, PTSD, mentions of sexual assault
If you asked me why I love these books so much, I probably wouldn't be able to answer you. They're classist, cissexist, and the diversity rep is abysmal (yes, Rainier is gay, but everything else is so heteronormative it kinda becomes homophobic). Not to mention the fact that Daemon following Jaenelle's growth sounds a hell of a lot like predatory/grooming behaviour. Everything should lead me to hate this series. And yet...
I won't rant about how long it took for the action to start, because I was so damn happy to read about Daemon and Jaenelle's life. We finally got a bit of meat around that bone. A glimpse at their day-to-day routine after Jaenelle healed and I was smiling like a goddamn idiot in the metro because they're SO FRIGGIN' CUTE TOGETHER!!!! And Lucivar and Marian. And Saetan. My faves are all well and happy and it warms my heart too much to bitch about the lack of stakes for the first half of the book.
And then the entitlement of Jenkell is so realistic. This is how cis straight white men act when they write and think they're all that, but aren't really that good. And I bet Anne Bishop saw her fair share of assholes and took those experiences to create the asshole that is Jenkell. Which made me even happier when he got his ass handed to him by Daemon (because most of the main characters could have gotten their revenge on him, but nothing is sweeter than to have the bad guy dance with the Sadist).
This book was part mystery, part horror, part commentary on how authors research their novels and I loved every single second of it (though I could have done without the giggling spiders and the exploding beetles...).
I still don't know if I'll read the last 3 books in the series, even with the new one coming out. I love Jaenelle/Daemon (Jaemon? Daenelle?) too much to give up on them, though at the same time I kinda wanna see what the Queen of the Black Jewels comes up with next...
June 6, 2010
This is the first book by Anne Bishop that I read after reading her short story 'Stands a God Within the Shadows' which I absolutely love!
I soon discovered this book is part of a series (The Black Jewels series) and it's not the first book in the series. And let me tell you: if you're going to read any book in the Black Jewels series I can advice you to start with the first book and work your way through the books in the right order. I'm telling you this as I reread this book after reading the original Black Jewels trilogy that started this series and not only made a lot of things in the book more sense the second time around, I also wasn't as distracted from the storyline by the characters as the first time.
I mean: the story is quite good, it has lots of suspense and creepy stuff happening, but the characters are what make this book. They're all very intriguing and well written. Not knowing who they were the first time I read the book I kept getting sidetracked wondering who they were and why they acted like they did. Having read the original trilogy my questions had been answered so second time reading the story I could give my attention to the story instead of just the characters.
So in conclusion: cool story, even cooler characters!
I soon discovered this book is part of a series (The Black Jewels series) and it's not the first book in the series. And let me tell you: if you're going to read any book in the Black Jewels series I can advice you to start with the first book and work your way through the books in the right order. I'm telling you this as I reread this book after reading the original Black Jewels trilogy that started this series and not only made a lot of things in the book more sense the second time around, I also wasn't as distracted from the storyline by the characters as the first time.
I mean: the story is quite good, it has lots of suspense and creepy stuff happening, but the characters are what make this book. They're all very intriguing and well written. Not knowing who they were the first time I read the book I kept getting sidetracked wondering who they were and why they acted like they did. Having read the original trilogy my questions had been answered so second time reading the story I could give my attention to the story instead of just the characters.
So in conclusion: cool story, even cooler characters!
March 21, 2025
Another book review lost because Amazon can't pay for (or doesn't care to) good IT folks to fix the discrepancy between the goodreads app and the website.
Either way, on this third (or perhaps more) read, I'm realizing that I like this volume the least in the Black Jewels series. It's one of the shortest, but it's extremely slow. After seeing the kind of power and danger in this world from the previous five books, the conflict here seems rather silly. But it does introduce some interesting additional world lore that I appreciate. That said, I'm glad on this reread I did it out of order and got the worst volume out of the way so that I can move on to Dreams Made Flesh and the excellent volumes afterwards.
Either way, on this third (or perhaps more) read, I'm realizing that I like this volume the least in the Black Jewels series. It's one of the shortest, but it's extremely slow. After seeing the kind of power and danger in this world from the previous five books, the conflict here seems rather silly. But it does introduce some interesting additional world lore that I appreciate. That said, I'm glad on this reread I did it out of order and got the worst volume out of the way so that I can move on to Dreams Made Flesh and the excellent volumes afterwards.
February 6, 2011
Another Black Jewel novel is always exciting for me. In this one, all I could think of was, "uh oh, someone is going to get a spanking when they get out of this haunted house". Surreal, I wish there was a little side story of what Lucivar did as a punishment after she was healed. While the plot of this story is pretty hokey. Still, it was fun for me because I loved seeing my favourite characters all back together again. This was a happier sweet story. Light read and nice insight into the secondary characters.
January 9, 2019
A new author has taken the Blood by storm. Jarvis Jenkell is a famous author among the landen. He has just learned that he is Blood and has decided to write a semi-autobiographical mystery series. Unfortunately, he doesn't know anything about actually being a member of the Blood and his attempts are laughable - to the Blood.
Jenkell's book gives Jaenelle an idea. She and Marian are going to create a "spooky house" that plays up to the landen's stereotypes of the Blood. Neither Daemon or Lucivar are really excited about this idea but they have a hard time saying no to Jaenelle.
Jenkell also has plans for a "spooky house." He wants to get back at the Blood who laughed at him. He is particularly angry at the SaDiablo family. He sends invitations to Lucivar, Daemon, and Surreal. Lucivar and Daemon don't respond for one reason or another but Surreal does and takes along her friend Warlord Prince Rainier.
Soon Surreal and Rainier find themselves trapped in Jenkell's house along with seven young adults. Everywhere they turn they find traps and dangers that they need to survive. They also need to find a way out without using Craft because each use of Craft closes one of the exits. Closing them all will leave them trapped forever.
Once Jaenelle, Daemon and Lucivar discover Jenkell's house, they have to find a way to outwit him and get their friends out. Jenkell will soon find out what it means to anger a Black-Jeweled Warrior Prince and Eyrien Warlord. And Jaenelle isn't pleased either!
I enjoyed this story despite a lot of spooky parts. Giggling spiders! Beetles! I loved seeing Daemon and Jaenelle's relationship now that they aren't in the middle of saving the world.
Jenkell's book gives Jaenelle an idea. She and Marian are going to create a "spooky house" that plays up to the landen's stereotypes of the Blood. Neither Daemon or Lucivar are really excited about this idea but they have a hard time saying no to Jaenelle.
Jenkell also has plans for a "spooky house." He wants to get back at the Blood who laughed at him. He is particularly angry at the SaDiablo family. He sends invitations to Lucivar, Daemon, and Surreal. Lucivar and Daemon don't respond for one reason or another but Surreal does and takes along her friend Warlord Prince Rainier.
Soon Surreal and Rainier find themselves trapped in Jenkell's house along with seven young adults. Everywhere they turn they find traps and dangers that they need to survive. They also need to find a way out without using Craft because each use of Craft closes one of the exits. Closing them all will leave them trapped forever.
Once Jaenelle, Daemon and Lucivar discover Jenkell's house, they have to find a way to outwit him and get their friends out. Jenkell will soon find out what it means to anger a Black-Jeweled Warrior Prince and Eyrien Warlord. And Jaenelle isn't pleased either!
I enjoyed this story despite a lot of spooky parts. Giggling spiders! Beetles! I loved seeing Daemon and Jaenelle's relationship now that they aren't in the middle of saving the world.
October 8, 2021
An interesting thought experiment. Trapped in a house with thirty doors, each use of magic will close a door. To shield from attacking demon dead, to protect the children you invited into the haunted house, to send messages, to find your way, your greatest resource is magic. What do you do?
Letting the party's fighter lead the way is a natural answer, but it's still good fun getting there.
Letting the party's fighter lead the way is a natural answer, but it's still good fun getting there.
November 28, 2017
Good story! I almost lost interest because of the slow moving beginning but the story line picked up around the time Luciver's invitation arrived! Poor Tersa, I'm glad she got her revenge!
March 8, 2020
The story is just too slow in the beginning. If you can get past the slow beginning the story is not so bad.
January 10, 2024
The kind of book I find "cozy"
November 11, 2018
This time of year is perfect to read this one Loved it!
February 27, 2023
It's a Halloween Special!! 🖤💀🏚️
March 19, 2008
While this book was not as good as the original three stories in The Black Jewels Trilogy it was a wonderful book and brought all of the main characters back, whom I adore. Especially Dameon and Lucivar who have pivitol roles in this tale and learn a great deal about themselves and where they came from, something everyone should know after thousands of years of living. Anne Bishop has a way of making this incredible fantasy world seem capable of existing. While reading these books I can invision a world where there are people who possess power and magic to help them rule the territories they keep. Such people of deep honor, tradition and class that must hold themselves above the people they rule due to the nature of their being. She makes us love these charcaters and feel for them. And wish we could talk to each other on a Jewel thought thread.
This book was better than Dreams Made Flesh (which confused me a bit trying to keep all the different times where each story took place correct in my head) and has an interesting plot line. How to these people, who use Craft unknowingly for everything in their life, deal with not being able to use it at all? I was able to figure out many of the little twists before they happened, and before the characters, but it still riveted me and left me yearning for more from my favored heroes and heroines. One thing I did enjoy was that this book focused more on Surreal, Daemon and Lucivar. While I did miss Jeanelle's interaction a bit, she took such a big role in the other three Jewel books it was nice to let the other characters shine. However it did disturb me a bit that she did not take a more active role in helping in the end and left it for Daemon and Lucivar to solve, something I didn't think she would ever do (or Witch would ever do) but as she is still recovering from the end of the Trilogy perhaps she could not do as much as she would have liked.
All around a very good read and a fascinating story. And it makes me want to read the Tilogy again.
This book was better than Dreams Made Flesh (which confused me a bit trying to keep all the different times where each story took place correct in my head) and has an interesting plot line. How to these people, who use Craft unknowingly for everything in their life, deal with not being able to use it at all? I was able to figure out many of the little twists before they happened, and before the characters, but it still riveted me and left me yearning for more from my favored heroes and heroines. One thing I did enjoy was that this book focused more on Surreal, Daemon and Lucivar. While I did miss Jeanelle's interaction a bit, she took such a big role in the other three Jewel books it was nice to let the other characters shine. However it did disturb me a bit that she did not take a more active role in helping in the end and left it for Daemon and Lucivar to solve, something I didn't think she would ever do (or Witch would ever do) but as she is still recovering from the end of the Trilogy perhaps she could not do as much as she would have liked.
All around a very good read and a fascinating story. And it makes me want to read the Tilogy again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2017
Anne Bishop's skill with words rivals her characters' skill with magic: she weaves beautifully compelling characters and stories that enchant the mind and leave you wanting more.
And as those of you who have read my other reviews know, I rarely rave this much about an author, but Anne Bishop is my favorite by far.
When I happened upon book one of the Black Jewels trilogy, which Tangled Webs is sort of a sequel to, I could not put it down, ran out to buy the next two the very next day, and read every instant I did not absolutely have to eat, sleep, or work. I immersed myself in Anne Bishop's words and world and did not emerge until a few hours after I had read the last word.
What's even more rare is that my mental red pencil (I've worked in publishing for too long and therefore am always correcting typos and/or grammatical errors in my head)is quiet the whole time I'm reading her books since there is not one false note or one extraneous scene.
Okay, so a little bit more about this book. Although many of the Black Jewels' favorites are back--including Saetan, Daemon, Lucivar, and Jaenelle--the book revolves mainly around Surreal.
When a "landen" (non-Blood and therefore non-magic using) writer accidentally discovers that he's Blood after all, and he doesn't get the reception he's expecting from the stronger Blood (not knowing their caste system and protocol), he decided to take revenge by inviting them to his "spooky" house, where he forces them to fight for their lives against predators and spells--without using "Craft" (magic).
The story has suspense, magic, humor, passion, love...everything you could ask for in a good book. I highly recommend this book and all of Anne Bishop's books to anyone who likes fantasy and/or just an amazingly well-written book.
And as those of you who have read my other reviews know, I rarely rave this much about an author, but Anne Bishop is my favorite by far.
When I happened upon book one of the Black Jewels trilogy, which Tangled Webs is sort of a sequel to, I could not put it down, ran out to buy the next two the very next day, and read every instant I did not absolutely have to eat, sleep, or work. I immersed myself in Anne Bishop's words and world and did not emerge until a few hours after I had read the last word.
What's even more rare is that my mental red pencil (I've worked in publishing for too long and therefore am always correcting typos and/or grammatical errors in my head)is quiet the whole time I'm reading her books since there is not one false note or one extraneous scene.
Okay, so a little bit more about this book. Although many of the Black Jewels' favorites are back--including Saetan, Daemon, Lucivar, and Jaenelle--the book revolves mainly around Surreal.
When a "landen" (non-Blood and therefore non-magic using) writer accidentally discovers that he's Blood after all, and he doesn't get the reception he's expecting from the stronger Blood (not knowing their caste system and protocol), he decided to take revenge by inviting them to his "spooky" house, where he forces them to fight for their lives against predators and spells--without using "Craft" (magic).
The story has suspense, magic, humor, passion, love...everything you could ask for in a good book. I highly recommend this book and all of Anne Bishop's books to anyone who likes fantasy and/or just an amazingly well-written book.
April 29, 2008
Anything after The Black Jewels trilogy will seem completely inconsequential in comparison. After all, what's left to do after you've already killed all the bad guys and saved the world? This book serves as a sharp reminder that even though all the bad guys are gone, that doesn't necessarily mean there aren't still problems in society, ie. neglected orphans, subpar schools, random psycho weirdos.
The plot here was subpar, I felt. There's a line from Surreal in the beginning of the book:
She clapped her hands to her cheeks, widened her eyes, and wagged her head. “Oh! Look! It’s the gardener. Who is dead. And look! There’s blood on the hedge clippers. Do you think it’s a clue?”
For some reason, that's exactly how I feel about this story: really obvious and everything was too neatly concluded. Not to mention, there are some random side stories that have nothing to do with the plot, but I think were "gifts" from Bishop to her fans who want to find out more about the main characters' histories and stuff. It would have been a better idea to turn those side stories into separate novels, rather than drop them in this book, where they have no place.
The plot here was subpar, I felt. There's a line from Surreal in the beginning of the book:
She clapped her hands to her cheeks, widened her eyes, and wagged her head. “Oh! Look! It’s the gardener. Who is dead. And look! There’s blood on the hedge clippers. Do you think it’s a clue?”
For some reason, that's exactly how I feel about this story: really obvious and everything was too neatly concluded. Not to mention, there are some random side stories that have nothing to do with the plot, but I think were "gifts" from Bishop to her fans who want to find out more about the main characters' histories and stuff. It would have been a better idea to turn those side stories into separate novels, rather than drop them in this book, where they have no place.
May 5, 2008
Bishop tells us right up front in this book that "the big battle has been won, the big tale has been told," and that this is just a day-in-the-life-of sort of story. which is to say 2 very obvious things: 1)don't start here, 2)it's nowhere near as good as the books that *did* tell the big story.
but you knew that, thanks to the handy disclaimer up front. you don't particularly mind though (those of us who loved those previous entries, anyway), since Bishop is absolutely *killer* at characterization. that's really what made those other books so much fun. this novel feels like a short story that got plumped up with a lot of side travels so that the reader could check in on all those fave characters one more time. and they're doing fine, life moves on after the big battle apparently, and that's pretty much what this book is all about. nothing earth-shattering, no big changes for our crew, but a fun little diversion anyway.
but you knew that, thanks to the handy disclaimer up front. you don't particularly mind though (those of us who loved those previous entries, anyway), since Bishop is absolutely *killer* at characterization. that's really what made those other books so much fun. this novel feels like a short story that got plumped up with a lot of side travels so that the reader could check in on all those fave characters one more time. and they're doing fine, life moves on after the big battle apparently, and that's pretty much what this book is all about. nothing earth-shattering, no big changes for our crew, but a fun little diversion anyway.
August 4, 2008
Blah. Surreal as a damsel in distress struggling to survive until The Men can come rescue her. Blah. Sure, she's stronger than the man with her, but he's gay, so it doesn't count. I'm all for exploring the awesome relationship between Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar, but to kill 20 women and children to set up the premise and then recast Surreal as a (damaged) damsel in distress just sucks.
Gee, I wonder if Bishop's working on a book in which Surreal meets a strong warlord who thinks her past is awesome and is going to heal all her pain with his cock. Of course, The Men will be protective but optimistic. ugh.
Gee, I wonder if Bishop's working on a book in which Surreal meets a strong warlord who thinks her past is awesome and is going to heal all her pain with his cock. Of course, The Men will be protective but optimistic. ugh.
August 23, 2009
What a spectacular visit back to the world of the black jewels! Ms. Bishop's best work is without a doubt her Black Jewels series and this long await return does not disappoint.
Trapped in a web of danger created by Jarvis Jenkell, Surreal and Rainier try to escape, while guarding the children, they unknowingly brought into the web with them.
Forced to work from outside the web to rescue Surreal and Rainier, Lucifier, Daemon, and Janelle race against a mad man to save them.
Trapped in a web of danger created by Jarvis Jenkell, Surreal and Rainier try to escape, while guarding the children, they unknowingly brought into the web with them.
Forced to work from outside the web to rescue Surreal and Rainier, Lucifier, Daemon, and Janelle race against a mad man to save them.
September 14, 2019
UPD: on a re-read, it's still very good! Go, Lucivar! :)
Wow, this was different! Surreal and Rainier were the main characters of the book but Daemon, Lucivar and Jaenelle weren't left far behind. This book is a perfect Halloween read, peeps! It involves an evil house designed to trap and kill SaDiablo family and their very gory struggle to stay alive and destroy this house. Chilly, scary and very intense, this was a fantastic read!
Wow, this was different! Surreal and Rainier were the main characters of the book but Daemon, Lucivar and Jaenelle weren't left far behind. This book is a perfect Halloween read, peeps! It involves an evil house designed to trap and kill SaDiablo family and their very gory struggle to stay alive and destroy this house. Chilly, scary and very intense, this was a fantastic read!
July 4, 2008
Took me nearly 4 weeks to read this. It was interesting, but I couldn't help thinking the characters were a little OOC and that put me off. But I did enjoy it, at times it even sort of creeped me out :) Definitely not in league with the Black Jewels trilogy though.
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