The Queen's Bargain (Black Jewels Book #10) --by Anne Bishop

Fiction / Fantasy (Adult/Dark)

427 pages / 2251 KB

5 Stars

I picked up the first Black Jewels Trilogy back in 2016 and became hooked on both Ms. Bishop's writing, and her universe. I have since read several of the Black Jewels books, though not in order (If this is a new series to you, I strongly advise you to read the first three books to get a feel for the style and the characters and the underlying stories, and then read them as you get them).  I have read all of her Other books, and loved them, too.

Lord Dillon made a youthful mistake, from what he thought was undying love, and his reputation has been besmirched. He needs to get it repaired, but is hounded by his past.

Daemon Sadi and his wife, Surreal are in the throes of marital discord, though neither truly knows why.

Jillian is still works in Lucivar's household, and has met her first true love, the Lord Dillon. 

Lucivar knows something is wrong with his brother, Sadi; something is wrong with Lord Dillon; something is wrong with...well, you get the picture. 

Oh, and the Scelties are having their problems, too. Especially with Janelle Satien who broke trust with one of them.

I tried reading a couple chapters a night. That lasted  maybe three nights, then I read the rest of the book the next day. I have little won't power where this world and these characters are involved.  Or any of Anne Bishop's novels.

Other books I've read and reviewed, by Ms. Bishop

Etched in Bone (A Novel of the Others ) http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2016/12/etched-in-bone-novel-of-others-by-anne.html

Vision in Silver, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/vision-in-silver-by-anne-bishop.html

Marked in Flesh http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2016/03/marked-in-flesh-by-anne-bishop.html

Murder of Crows, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/murder-of-crows-by-anne-bishop.html

Written in Red, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/written-in-red-anne-bishop.html

Wild Country, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2019/03/wild-country-world-of-others-2-by-anne.html

Lake Silence, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2017/10/lake-silence-by-anne-bishop.html

The Black Jewels Trilogy http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-black-jewels-trilogy-by-anne-bishop.html

Twilight's Dawn (Black Jewels #9) http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2020/01/twilights-dawn-black-jewels-trilogy.html

The Invisible Ring (Black Jewels #4), http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-invisible-ring-black-jewels-book-4.html   

The Killing Fog (The Grave Kingdom Book 1) --by Jeff Wheeler

Fiction /  Fantasy

404 pages / 5607 KB

5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the world Mr. Wheeler built. My biggest complaint is the fact this is book one of three, and books two and three are not yet available. Many of the reviews give clues to what awaits, I'll merely add that this was a page burner and I eagerly await the next two books.

Addendum for this blog:

Mr. Wheeler's world for this series, is a different medieval China (you knew that would hook me, didn't you?). The heroine is Bingmei, a young girl orphaned at the beginning and taken in and raised by an honorable house to become a warrior. She, of course, must make decisions all through the book about what is honorable, what is easy, what is right. Those do not always align. And sometimes she makes the wrong choice when given wrong or conflicting information. And then she must correct it. Easier said than done.

Fortunately, Books 2 & 3 are available for pre-order, and I have ordered. Of course, by the time they are available, I will have totally forgotten I've ordered them, and will think it's a Winter Gift of whatever month it arrives.

No Way Out --by Tower Lowe

Fiction / mystery

227 pages / 389 KB

4 stars

I enjoy Ms Lowe's characters, and this new book, with new characters, is no exception. Her protagonist, Molly Donovan, has just returned to Santa Fe after breaking up with her fiancé who claimed he loved her, but just couldn't up with put her "crippled" arm. She would not be a trophy wife for him.

An insurance company fraud investigator, she left her job, moved in with her parents, and went to work as the receptionist for a real estate office, where she witnessed the murder of one of the agents, and meets Miguel. Physically, he's perfect, but he is a recovering addict. 

The killer came into the office, masked, and yelling political slogans. Everyone assumes he's a political nutjob, and goes after the unknown assailant, with no real leads. But Molly received an email from Gloria, the newly deceased, which she didn't read until too late, and it was a warning not to come to work, and if anything happens... Well, it happened, and Molly and Miguel team up to figure it out. And what a fun ride they take us on while they do.

Other Tower Lowe books I've read and reviewed:

Gone on Sunday, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/search?q=tower+lowe 

Premonition, http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2019/03/premonition-2-of-cotton-lee-penn-books.html 

The President's Henchman, a thriller --by Joseph Flynn

Fiction / Thriller

434 pages / 3074KB

5 Stars

I used to say that thriller's weren't my genre of choice, however, I can no longer state that. I've now read two of Flynn's books (Tall Man in Ray-Bans was my first) and am a full and complete convert. There's enough adrenaline in this book to satisfy just about anyone, but enough laugh-out-loud humor to satisfy me. In fact, the humor can be deadly; I strongly recommend you not read it while eating. 

Jim McGill is an ex-cop, married to a woman who becomes President. He isn't into ribbon cutting and sweet smiles, so gets his PI license, opens an office, and brings one of his ex-cop buddies, Sweetie, to work with him. Sweetie quickly earned my respect. She's no nonsense, hard as diamonds, loaded with compassion and empathy, and her relationship, such as it is, with her landlord is delightful. The characters are believable, the story is engrossing, and I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.

Curiosities --by William Matthews

Non fiction / essays on poets and poetry

172 pages

4 Stars

I enjoyed the personal essays more than the ones about others. That's not to say the others weren't interesting, they were. But they also didn't grab me quite as immediately. I especially enjoyed the first one, Long Shadows, and think it set me up to think the rest of the book would be more about him and less about others. Travel was delightful and brought back many memories, and the Poet's Alphabet was great fun.

As another reviewer stated, it works as an appreciation for the middle, and I'm from the coast (west). I came to this book unfamiliar with Matthews' poetry, and now look forward to reading some. There was nothing earth-shattering to be found therein, but it made a great night-time read. An interesting read.

The Horse Nation [Revival of the Past] --by Lawney L. Reyes and Therese Kennedy Johns

Fiction / Historical (Modern Native American)

161 pages

3 Stars

I am, perhaps being a little rough on my rating; after all, Mr. Reyes is an accomplished author of nonfiction work. And perhaps that's his hard point here? This is a work of fiction, geared, I think, to a YA audience. Then, again, perhaps I need to read more works by "Rez Indians."

This is the story of a young man, Christian, who grows up on the rez, and decides to race his father's horse in a Suicide Race. Fortunately, he changes his mind, and works with his father's two thoroughbreds to race in the relay races. He is given much leeway as a boy, riding through the wilderness to school (what schoolboy wouldn't love that? For that matter, what horse crazy girl wouldn't love that?).

Christian is an only child, home schooled his early years, then attends school on the rez. He is encouraged by his parents to look at all sides of an issue, though also gently guided by them. He also receives helpful advice from the current group of Indian horse racers.

This book is an interesting insight into rez living and the history of horses and Northwest Native Americans. Reyes used a mixture of fictional characters and real people which gives the book a taste of reality. There are several color photographs throughout, showing both the people and the area. This book is not angry as some by Natives I've read.

I recommend it, especially for YA audiences.

Twilight's Dawn (Black Jewels Trilogy Book 9) --by Anne Bishop

Fiction / Fantasy

448 pages / 943 KB

5 Stars

This is a collection of four novellas that take place in the Black Jewels world. Each novella tells a different story, and we are told where in the time span it takes place. 

Winsol Gifts comes after Tangled Webs. Winsol is the traditional time in winter that gifts are exchanged. With the SaDiablo extended family, things can be now and again tricky. 

Shades of Honor comes before Shadow Queen. Lucivar has a full-blood Eyrien as second in command, Falonar. He does not wish to be second in command to anyone, especially a half breed like Lucivar. He sets a deadly trap, and doesn't realize just how deadly until the trap is sprung.

Family comes a decade or so later when Sylvia and her two boys are lured into a trap. Oh, these people really should know NOT to muck about with the SaDiablo family, or their friends. 

High Lord's Daughter takes place decades later. Those of us who have followed the series, at least in part, know that Jaenelle was born to a short-lived race. Daemon knew it, but was loved her, totally. In this story, she has died, but before her death, she made Daemon promise to mourn her for a year, and then start living again. The year has passed, Daemon removes his wedding ring, and is NOT a happy camper. Especially when Sureal comes in and with her 'take charge' (or is that 'take no prisoners?') attitude starts cleaning out Jaenelle's suite. And demanding Daemon start attending social functions. Whatever will the Warlord and future High Lord of Hell do?

I laughed out loud in some places, I cried real tears in others, and I wept. Ms Bishop creates some of the best worlds I've ever visited. If this is, in fact, the last of the Black Jewel books, at least I have the books to reread and can go in and visit whenever I need to escape this world.