Twilight's Dawn (Black Jewels Series)

Ehh

Let me start off by saying.. for those of you getting mad at the reviewers for giving away information. Ummmm.. has anyone read the back of the book? Ann herself gives away everything, its no secret that Janelle dies or that Saetan dies as well. For those of you that read the books, Ann hints all throughout them that she's human, therefore has a human lifespan. For those of you that haven't read it, sorry, don't complain to the reviewers for giving away information that which the author gives away herself.

Since I knew what was going to happen, I didn't feel the need to buy the book. I just sat there in barnes and nobles and skimmed over highlights of it. Why pay 30.00 when I know how it's going to end? This was actually one of my very favorite series up until the point that Janelle lost all her powers. I wasn't happy with the fact that the author built up such a great story and then all of a sudden its all over. Then she throws little short stories after that per year. Each of those cost 30.00. No thanks.

I felt that the author did us an injustice by making Janelle's death a SHORT story. I feel that she was lazy and she should have given us a real story, not some book that had 3 or 4 stories combined. Makes it seem like "oh well, she dead, lets move on." I loved Janelle and the rest of the family, and to see the author do this to her, just.. was no right. A short story.. is not enough to mourn the lose of favorite characters. I think Saetan only got what? 2 or 3 chapters?

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

This is a super Black Jewels dark fantasy anthology containing four strong entries

"Winsol Gifts". The Black-Jeweled Warlord Prince of Dhelan Daemon Sadi prepares for the gala celebrating his first anniversary with his spouse Jaenelle the Witch Queen; as family and friends arrive.

"Shades of Honor". Daemon's brother Prince Lucivar Yaslana struggles to escape a traitor's trap at a time when Surreal of Ebon Rich learns her former lover Prince Faloner claims he is the ruler.

"Family". The vicious warlord No Face threatens the lives of Queen Sylvia and her sons Beron and Mikal.

"The High Lord's Daughter". Daemon has lost his heart and soul with the deaths of his beloved wife and father Saetan. As the High Lord of Hell he meets and marries Surreal, and they have a daughter named after his late first spouse. However, the two women in his life may not be enough to get over his broken heart.

This is a super Black Jewels dark fantasy anthology containing four strong entries due to Anne Bishop's ability to make her characters seem real as life is a struggle from birth to death, but joyfully with loved ones at your side.

Harriet Klausner

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Definitely Recommended!

I have loved this series since the first novel, Daughter of the Blood, as well as all of Anne Bishop's novels. Her writing is spectacular as is the plot. Though what sticks out for me are the characters, they all are so distinctive and real. I laugh and cry when I read these books and I feel as if they are real in the most amazing way. If you love dark fantasy and romance that does not take over the plot of stories then you will love the Black Jewels series, I can only hope that Bishop continues in this world and brings us readers new ones to explore at the same time.

All of the stories are great in this book and are believable. I like the unlikely twists added in some and the fact that Lady Sylvia was added into the stories as well. I will not give any spoilers but I will say you can't put it down, even between the stories.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Everything has a price...

It simply doesn't matter what the other reviews have given away. No one lives, or dies, the way you expect them to. Read the book and love it the way you've loved the others. Everything has a price.... and this is worth it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Twilight's Dawn

I have been a fan of Anne Bishop's since I randomly picked up "Daughter of the Blood" one day in the book store read a few lines and was hooked. Since then I have read all her works, but I always come back to the "Black Jewels" trilogy. Even years later they still make me laugh, cry, rage and cheer. I wont give away spoilers in my review but I will say that "Twilight's Dawn" is a wonderful addition to the Realms. I will miss the the SaDiablo family and all the adventures that they have brought to me and I hope they will pay Anne another visit if/when they are ready. As for "Twilight's Dawn", there were several loose ends tied up and middle stories told to fill in the blanks between the other novels. Then of course there is the "Highlord's Daughter" which I admit I put off reading for a few days because I was not ready to face what I knew would one day come after reading the first book. Once I finally sat down to read it I enjoyed the story and I have found a little peace in the ending. But, I like Daemon, feel like I have lost two very important people but the story is written in a way to offer healing at the same time. If you enjoy the other Black Jewel's novels this is a must read because some happily ever afters are not always what you expect them to be and "everything has price".

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A good End to a good world

When I first sat down to read the 8 books it was only 4 days ago. I was pulled in by the lovable Characters, Karla and Surreal to name the top two. I did not read the back of the book so I had a shock set for me when I had finally reached the last hundred pages I found tears in my eyes, but I shoved on though and found that a bitter sweet feeling filling my chest, yes I was not happy that the hero of the story had died and left behind her long lived loved ones, but we all knew it was going to happen, but the bittersweet part was that Deamon was could not spend his long life alone, and Jaenelle knew that, she set him a trap, a well thought out trap.
Even though this story was only 100 pages I thought it said enough, yes I would have liked more but something short and sweet was enough. It was a good finish for the world of the Jewels, and that is what I think that last story was, a ending point, all the characters had a end, Surreal had gotten the love she deserved, Deamons heart was whole again, and Luciver has not one but three adoring children and a loving wife.
I have mixed feelings about the end, I want things to continue, I would love to read more about this world that had taken up not only my waken world but my dreams (yes after reading the last story I dreamed about it) I have grown to love that world and the ideas that made it up, but what I really feel the Aurthur has rapped things up enough, it feels like it would be wrong to continue this story, so it is best to let things lie and then in a year or two go back to the begging instead of wait for a new installment for this world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

excellent

Bittersweet.....very, very, very good.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must-Read!

I started reading Anne Bishop's "Dark Jewels" series last year, and from the first page I was hooked! This book definitely not only lived up to, but surpassed the hype. It is an excellent (if sad) book in the series, but really wraps up the lives of the main characters from beginning to (what I hope isn't) the end. If you loved the first trilogy set, then you MUST MUST MUST read this book. I cannot emphisize how much you need to read this book. Just read it. Now.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OUTRAGED

Huffie how could you give away the plot like that? You should be banned! I haven't read it yet but am not as thrilled by it now because of that review. AWFUL to do to someone.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book

If you like this series this is a must rea.

Love Anne Bishop

Love her writing. I am sad to see this series end, but she does so beautifully. The characters are as wonderful as always and the world she creates is one I would love to visit. This series is a very dark fantasy world, so may not be for all readers, but it is a beautiful world.

Bishop can still weave a spell.

I loved these short stories about the Witch and her friends, and family. Loved the series about The Black Jewels. Hope she writes more, about the people who make up this world. I wouldn't recommend reading this if you haven't the read the other books, because its easier to understand the characters in these stories, if you start with book one.

WOW

So good!

Awesome

Love this book.

Recommended

I adored there entire black jewels series, setting and characters. I found it a little hard to get into the first book of the series but I'm hooked now.

I love this book

You have 2 read it you will love it!!!!!!!

Gold

this is a really emotional book if youve read others in this series and have gotten to know the characters it shows you another side to them in a new way two thumbs up

What the

This isnt the reel twilight!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Addition to the Black Jewels - Recommended Read

For those who loved the stories in the Black Jewels and enjoy Anne Bishop's style of writing, pick up a copy of this book and snuggle down with your favorite drink, blanket, and pillow. This collection of short stories is very similar to her other anthologies, including Dreams Made Flesh. I enjoyed the following aspects of this book:

1) Anne Bishop's attention to detail is spectacular. She makes references to multiple incidents and characters from her previous books and stories. This makes her world seem consistent, and suspension of disbelief becomes much easier on the readers.

2) Bishop explains the answer to many of the questions that readers may have had in the past. If Sataen is so powerful, why did he let his sons get taken away? What happens between Witch and Daemon if he's from a long-lived race and she isn't? The resolutions are satisfactory and interesting. Will Surreal ever find happiness or is her life always going to be horrid?

3) I deeply enjoyed revisiting all the characters. My only disappointment is that Surreal's expertise gets neglected a little bit in favor of Daemon.

Overall, this was a great read and worth the purchase.

i wish i hadnt read this

i dont see why this book was necessary. the series itself, with its highs and lows, was great. the characters were likeable and the action, when it was there, was exciting and believable. twilight's dawn was perhaps my least favorite book by anne bishop, and thats saying something because tangled webs was pretty bad. i feel that jaenelle's death was handled poorly-- even saetan had more storyline dedicated to his passing than Witch. jaenelle and saetan were such major characters in the whole of the series yet their deaths were so glossed over! i would have loved to say goodbye to them both and then grieve with the remaining characters. the stories, and consequently the book, feel rushed. i am so disappointed.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.