Twilight's Dawn: A Black Jewels Book

If you have read negative reviews, they were wrong. This novel, and specifically the last short story, is a work of art worthy pinnacle of this amazing story. I am only sorry that it took years for me to read it.

I love the books of Anne Bishop, so I was waiting on tenterhooks for this book to come out. I guess I didn't realize it was going to be a four novella book instead of a full novel regarding the history, use, future, of the Twilight's Dawn jewel.******CONTAIN SPOILERS FYI********Fans of Ms. Bishop will undoubtedly read this book, and I think that there will be two camps - love it or hate it. My favorite story would have to be the one regarding Winsol and its deeper meaning of family. Some of the characters seemed to become a little less...ah...intelligent than they typically are in her other Black Jewels novels, but as what happens it real life, it could just be the holiday setting.The story I was most disappointed in was that of Falonar. In Queen of the Darkness so much was alluded to when Lucivar met him at the service fair, and upon seeing their relationship again as part of this book, I truly was hoping for more of Lucivar's background in the hunting camps and courts and time as a slave. I also wanted Falonar to become a much more developed character. In this book, he comes off as an angry, self serving jerk, but the question is, how did he get that way? Was he like that from his childhood because of how he was raised, did it happen in one of the corrupted courts, how??? And I was sorely disappointed at how little was written about his relationship with Surreal. She is a very interesting part of all the books, and here it was mostly just a throwaway in order to move the plot along. There is so much that could have been added to the background and richness of this particular time frame that I am heartily disappointed this was not make into its own novel.The story of Sylvia and No Face was an utter letdown as well. Again, there was a total lack of background on this character. While Ms. Bishop had to leave some villains/bad apples after the events in Queen of the Darkness, she also had to leave them with some sort of history! How did this character get this way, how did he go on committing crimes for so long...the list of questions is endless in my mind. And it was all tied up too neatly for me. I would have loved to have read more about Saeten and Sylvia's time together, and the years Janelle spent as the Halaway queen. Once again I felt left hanging by the sheer omission of depth in this story.The final story I am split on. Once more I would have loved a huge novel instead of just several chapters. I would have loved to know of everything that went on during the next several decades of Janelle's life. I do appreciate how her passing was handled and that the story was more than just about each person's grieving process. When Saetan made his final choice, I knew that something would be gone forever from the Black Jewels books. He was so much a part of everyone's lives that I will admit I did cry for the passing of a fictional character.I do hope that Ms. Bishop will continue with more books in this series. I would love to know so much more of Janelle Saetien and how she uses the jewel the original Janelle had. I would love to know why the kindred faded away from the humans after Janelle's death, and why this child is suddenly reconnecting worlds. What is her destiny, her purpose? Regarding Surreal and Daemon, I agree that their relationship is what Daemon's and Janelle's should have been. Theirs was about passion, fire, his knowing that he was meant to be Witch's lover. And if you notice, no where does it ever change to life mate. Yes, they do marry, but Daemon's connection to his softer side always comes back through to Surreal, and it's alluded to in the story that Janelle is fully aware of this. I cannot deny the characters were not written as being in love, but personally, Daemon and Surreal ARE love. They have been there for each other for centuries. They have fought and reconciled, protected each other, helped each other through tumultuous times in relationships. In essence, a true partnership forged on trust, love, understanding, and commitment.I eagerly look forward to more stories from the Black Jewels series, and hope that the next contain more about Janelle Saetien, Surreal, Daemon and the kindred. I would also like to know more about Cassidy's adventures in Shalador Nehele and how everything progressed there. And, since it is obvious Witch still lives in the Darkness, will she become a bigger part of things in future books? And what of Lucivar and his family? He has changed the way Eryians think and live. What impact will that have on future generations? What is in store for his children? Will either he or Daemon become Guardians? It would also be a tremendous treat for Ms. Bishop to give us more stories from Saetan's past - the first war between the Blood, his 50,000 years waiting for Witch, his time with Cassandra, everything. Ms. Bishop has created a world without a foreseeable end for which to plumb for stories of so many characters we have come to love and adore.

My review on this is going to be short. Mostly because I read three of the stories and started into the 4th and then stopped because it was too soon and I had very strange feelings about it overall, I just wasn’t ready to read that tale.Windsol gifts – It is a cute little holiday story that include all of the family getting together and just proves that Saetan is smarter than the rest of them since he knows how to distract an inquisitive child with a present they are supposed to break. Cute and happy little story.Shades of Honor – Or it could be called why Falonar is a douchbag. I mean I liked him a little in the third book of the series but he seemed to have issues with woman of strength and while I hoped that Surreal could teach him some life lessons it seems like he just couldn’t get over some of his misogynist ways.This was a great story about someone who thought they were strong enough to take on Lucivar and learned the hard way that well they are not. I really liked this story overall and meeting some new characters along the way.Family – Saetan has loved Queen Sylvia from afar since he spent so much of himself to help cleanse the realm and bring Jaenelle back. But when Sylvia crosses the Family comes together to protect her boys and make sure that some evil in the land doesn’t get away with killing off children. I really liked this story even though it was dark it brought Sylvia and Saetan together again.The High Lord’s Daughter – This is the story I started and then stopped. For one it is set years later when Jaenelle has died. Daemon and Jaenelle had a fantastic life together and this story begins a year after she has gone. I don’t know why but I thought as Witch maybe she would live longer and they would have more time. I really wasn’t ready for this so it was a blow and living in Daemon’s grief as he tries to move on as he has promised her he would do was difficult. Then there is another heartwrenching death in this. I see why but again I was not ready and it was emotionally taxing.Then there is the part where Daemon is moving on. Even though I liked the set up for how he is moving on overall since it seemed like the only way it was going to happen so soon (like 5-6 years post Janeall’s death) I struggled with it and this is when I walked away from the story for a few months.This is a difficult story I do like where it ended up and I really can’t wait to see what the new holder of Twilight’s Dawn does with it. Plus seeing Daemon as a father is really adorable and his little witch child is going to be just as much trouble as her namesake. Still I miss Jaenelle and didn’t want the story to progress without her. But the human’s lives are short in this world and Daemon’s will be long, he was already over a thousand when he met witch.I hope this is a set up for some new adventures with lil’ Jaenelle and the kindred. I think you are going to have to read this story before the next in the series. I’m a little nervous for what is in story in The Queen’s Bargain. I like that Witch saw parts of the future and helped to form it for Daemon, I’m just sad that she can’t be more of a part of it and found a way to stay with him longer than a human life.

AB has done herself proud with "Twilight's Dawn" and remains an impressive writer in the world of dark fantasy. This book contains 4 novellas set in the Realms of the Blood and as always, it is beautifully written and heartbreakingly poignant in places. Expect smiles and giggles, but also have plenty of tissues close to hand as some of these stories are emotionally battering.Winsol GiftsSet after the events in "Tangled Webs" Surreal and Rainier are still healing physically from their ordeals but seem in no way to be healing emotionally. The whole family feature as Daemon is caught in the chaos of Jaenelle preparing for their first proper Winsol together yet Saetan begins his withdrawal from their lives. For a powerful, intelligent man he wrongly assumes Daemon, Jaenelle and Lucivar will let him slip quietly away.This is a mix of whimsy and heartbreak as the more emotional moments are balanced by the antics of Daemonar and his growing excitement over Winsol. Even Daemon has a hard time handling his young nephew.Shades of HonorSet just before "The Shadow Queen" Surreal rises to the Killing Edge as she finds it difficult to deal with the deaths that haunt her and ex-lover Falonar acting like an idiot. As Falonar's mask slips and his true personality emerges, he strives to eliminate his greatest rival; Lucivar Yaslana.Well for those readers that always wondered what happened to Falonar the truth is finally revealed. Lucivar may show some mercy on occasion, but his brother Daemon will leave no debt unpaid.FamilyThis short story is a real tear jerker as a likeable and familiar Queen is murdered and her sons go missing. Whilst Saetan deals with this new demon-dead Queen, Lucivar, Daemon, Jaenelle and Surreal trace the missing youngsters and hunt the rogue warlord responsible for the death of a dear friend.This Queen's death is shocking, violent and will leave fans of this series with their jaws hanging down to their knees. I could almost hate AB for killing off this character but in her dark world just because you're dead doesn't mean your life has to end ;)The High Lord's Daughter"spoiler alert" Sorry to mention this but it such an important part of this tale (and it is revealed in the dust-jacket) but the last story is set initially one year after Jaenelle's death. I always thought that AB would write something wonderful to eliminate the vastly different life expectancies of Jaenelle and Daemon but she does not; instead he has just 7 wonderful decades with the woman he loves.The rest of the story spans another 3 decades or so, and if you find "Family" upsetting, then prepare to have your heart ripped out of your chest in "The High Lord's Daughter". Just thinking about this short tale makes me well up as an all time favourite character of mine becomes a whisper in the Darkness. Yet countering this loss is a bunch of new arrivals, including a special daughter born to some extraordinary parents.This last story offers a lot of closure, and whilst I would love this series to continue, I don't think it could survive the loss of such important characters. That said a new generation of "Blood" books would be very entertaining judging by the personalities added to the SaDiablo family.

"Twilight's Dawn" is Anne Bishop's second novella collection of stories set in the Black Jewels universe, the first one being "Dreams Made Flesh". I always await each new Bishop book with eagerness so when I finally got my hands on the paperback version I simply enjoyed. It was only on the second reading through, after I'd read the original trilogy yet again, that a few niggles were noticed.In "Dreams Made Flesh" we were treated to the stories of how the spiders became the Weavers of Dreams after Dracca and Lorn passed their power on, how Lucivar met and married Marian, why the name of Zuulaman is no more than a myth and how Daemon and Janelle reconnected and renewed their love of each after the terrible unleashing of her power to cleanse the Realms. They're stories that fill in the background of the Black Jewels universe and those people we've come to love and "Twilight's Dawn" attempts to do the same. However, for me "Winsol Gifts" didn't really work in that context as I didn't feel it added much to the background of the main novels. "Family", the third of the stories was good, but I wanted to know a little more about the mysterious No Face and felt that would have made the story more satisfying.I'm afraid on second reading I had a major problem with "Shades of Honor", the story of Surreal and Prince Falonar and, by extension with parts of "Queen of the Darkness". Much is made at the beginning of the latter mentioned novel that Janelle has the final say on who will be allowed to stay in Kaeleer and who won't, she can see the heart and soul of a person and judge accordingly. Yet in "Shades of Honor" it seems that Falonar has fooled Janelle and everyone else and only shows his true side when he's been living in Kaeleer for two years. Would Janelle have been taken in? For me the answer is no. So this story shouldn't be, nor should those parts of "Queen of the Darkness" that deal with Falonar.I have mixed emotions regarding the last of the four novellas in "Twilight's Dawn." "The High Lord's Daughter" is both the right story and the wrong story for me. The rightness is the fact that Daemon does come to find happiness and love again after Janelle has passed away. The scene of Saetan's passing brings tears to my eyes yet is so right in the context of this universe. The wrongess is I feel this would have been better as a separate expanded novel in its own right. It's subtitled "A story that spans decades" and I think it would have been better with more buildup in Surreal and Daemon's relationship and more on little Janelle Saetien's early years. The withdrawal of all the Kindred also seemed out of character, given the 40-50 years of Kindred/human relationships that would have developed before Janelle passed away, even if they did return later in the story. For me this is a novel that should have been written in a few years' time with more depth.Those are my views. They won't stop me from reading this collection a few more times.

I am an avid reader and somehow this feels like an ending this book is a collection of stories that we get hints of throuought the later black jewels novels if you know the realms well have tissues at the readyhopefully this will not be annes last visit to the hall, i hold a secret hope the next generation will come to walk the realms with us but as a finale to the trilogy this was an emotional ride

I just adore Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series. They are very interesting and the characters grip you. The original 3 books dealt with some very dark crimes, but the characters just hold you until the end. This book is no exception.

Very detailed, but hangs together ok