The Invisible Ring (Black Jewels Series #4)

Romantic and a Good Read

This not the book I'd start with if you're new to Anne Bishop or her Dark Jewels series. I'd recommend reading at least the opening trilogy first of Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness, despite the fact this novel precedes them chronologically (set a few centuries before) and could stand alone, but I think that earlier written trilogy is the stronger introduction to the Dark Jewels series. The story in Invisible Ring is alluded to briefly towards the end of Queen of the Darkness, and if you've read that book you might recognize the reference. Although I didn't find this story as striking as the original trilogy, it's more of a standard romance, Bishop does have the ability to make you care about her characters and draw you into their world. I loved the device alluded to in the title of The Invisible Ring, which has the perfect pay off in the last lines of the book. The novels The Shadow Queen and Shalador's lady, chronologically set after the original trilogy, are more or less sequels to The Invisible Ring, since that novels acts as a backdrop to them--I'd recommend both, particularly if you enjoy this book.

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Highly Recommended

This is great. Outside the trilogy, but still wonderful. I'll read the rest too!

Books are not numbered correctly.

I read Dreams made Flesh only to find out the books are incorrectly numbered. Check out the list online if you want to read them in order. AWESOME reads.

Good, but not as good as other books in series

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the main characters in this book were in the other books in the series. I grew attached to Daemon, Saetan, Lucivar and Janelle.... they were not part of this story (well, Daemon was but not much...) It was a good story but I would not have thought it to be part of the Black Jewels series if it didn't say it on the cover.

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A familiar world

If you're a fan of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy you will be glad to return to the world of the Blood. This novel is technically a prequel to the Trilogy, but the characters are familiar archetypes of the previous books. Strong female characters, 'damaged' or 'broken' spirited males, and magic.

Good read

You must read these in order or you won't know what is going on,,the first one is a little dry first part of the book till you know the characters and understand how different this book is...I loved them once I got into them. The imagination of Anne Bishop is exceptional, i read all of this series in 3 weeks. Now i have to wait till the next one comes out.

Another good find

I'm glad I found this one so that I could keep reading about that world. I really enjoyed it, not as much as the trilogy, but a definite close second. This is a great book for the series.

Great World

My daughter and I read this book over Winter Break, we did not realize that we started in the middle of a series. But it was a great read and I've started reading the books at the beginning of the series. Love the characters and the general concept of the world that has been created.

well worth reading

Book 3 ended up in the air with Jaenelle and this book ties up a lot of loose ends. It is also very entertaining with Daemon Sr.

A let down

Is every witch going to be snappy, organised and have some blazing hair or eyes or part of her personality? I made the mistake of reading the House of Gaian books first which i did enjoy but was hoping for a break away from the sameness of the snappy witch group and the same mould for the men. Thats just it all the women characters are in the same mould and all the men follow that line too. The book is set at an interesting pace and it keeps you going but having read previous books it just felt same old same old.

exciting follow up

I loved reading this book. Being a huge fan of the Black Jewels Trilogy, I was so excited to see this book on the shelf I bought it on the spot. Finally, the full story of the Gray Lady mentioned in Queen of the Darkness! I love the creativity of this world, I love every book Ann Bishop has written, she is truly outstanding!

Great Book!

Another awesome book from Anne Bishop. This was as well written as the trilogy and introduced you to a two people that were mentioned in it. And as always the world was very realistic and stunning.

POWER WITH PASSION

I love the way the character's flow in to one another like a beautiful power ful dance where life and death hang in the balance. What attracts me most is power and strength these characters hold. A power so strong it takes your breath away. I would recommend this to anyone who likes books that grab you by the heart and won't let go till the very last page.

Outstanding Read

This book is set in the same world as the "Black Jewels Trilogy" which I heartily recommend! I enjoyed reading about the characters, and could hardly put the book down. I also enjoyed the introduction of some characters from the trilogy.

Breath taking

This book lets you experience this facinating world in an amazing way. This was the first one of her books that I have read and I can't wait to get my hands on her other ones. Part of me is even hoping for a sequel. It's writers like her that have inspired me to become an author.

Fantasy for thinkers

Loved it. This was the first Anne Bishop book I ever picked up and it was a fluke. I needed something to read, and this was the only one that looked palatable in the entire stack I was looking at. Wonderfully mesmerizing, I read it in about 4 hours. Jared, Lia, Thera, Blaed and the rest all jumped out of the pages and the politics were well-written enough to give one pause and think about how they mirror some of what is happening today. I just read it again and it gets better and better.

A New World

This book was wonderful. It is another story from the same realm as The Black Jewel Trilogy. It opens a door into a whole new world. This particular book gives more insight to the legend of the Gray Lady, mentioned in The Black Jewels Trilogy. IT shows enticing emotion and a fast paced, interesting plot.

New Addition To A Great Series

If you want a book to have your mind as entertained as your own imagination this is the book for you. It is a story about the Grey Lady which is hinted in the last of the Black Jewels Trilogy book Queen of the Darkness. It is a great addition to any fantasy reader's collection. Buy it you won't be sorry.

Fantastic dark fantasy!

The Invisible Ring is set in the same world as the Black Jewels Trilogy and takes place thousands of years before the coming of Witch. It tells the story of Jared, a Red-Jeweled Warlord, who at the beginning of the story is in the slave pits awaiting his fate for killing a Queen; and the Gray Lady, who is a Queen and an enemy of Dorothea. There are two characters from the Black Jewels Trilogy who appear in this story. Much to his chagrin, Jared is purchased by the Gray Lady...and the story continues with their journey to her lands, and Dorothea's attempts to kill the Gray Lady. We meet many new characters, and Ms. Bishop deftly intertwines the relationships between them and Jared's struggle to come to terms with who and what he is. This is an *excellent* addition to the Realms, and if you enjoyed The Black Jewels Trilogy, you'll also really enjoy this one. Daemon makes an appearance or two, so readers will definitely *love* that! Ms. Bishop has her own website which has an excerpt.

I can't wait!

After reading Anne Bishop's wonderful Black Jewels Trilogy, I am waiting impatiently to get ahold of this one. Set in the same world but unconnected to the trilogy, it involves some of the same fascinating characters and a lot of new ones. Check out Anne Bishop's website, www.sff.net/people/anne-bishop/ to read an excerpt and learn more about her world. This standalone novel is expected to be just as exciting as her award-winning trilogy. Oh, October is so very far away...