Shalador's Lady

Shalador's Lady, by Anne Bishop, was a much anticipated continuation of the Black Jewels series that I've read in the past.  The Shadow Queen (the previous book in the series) started the story of Lady Cassidy and Gray, with this book continuing the story.

In this story, Theran Grayhaven has met Cassidy's rival, Lady Kermilla, and is determined to put Kermilla into position as Queen of Dena Nehele.  Cassidy is devastated when she learns this and runs away to Shalador, leaving her rival at Grayhaven.  Kermilla uses Cassidy's absence to abuse the staff, rack up huge bills with the local merchants and cause trouble.  However, in Shalador, Cassidy used her time to help enrich the land and the lives of the people around her.  Even Gray has started to flourish with the help of Daemon Sadi's tutelage and has taken it upon himself to learn the role of First Escort to prevent his cousin from disbanding Cassidy's court.

When Cassidy split Dena Nehele into two with her own Territory to rule (Shalador Nehele), the Warlords in the provinces left behind quickly join ranks with her.  The ones who do not give Theran an ultimatum: get rid of Kermilla or lose Grayhaven.  Since Kermilla has caused many of the Warlords to remember what it was like to live under the rule of bad Queens, the Warlords refuse to serve under her.  Taking Talon's advice, Theran breaks his own heart instead of breaking his honour.

While I think this story will continue, I think that Gray and Cassidy (as the main characters) are finished - now that Theran has a new Queen, a Sceltie by the name of Lady Rhahn.

I really like Anne Bishop's books - all of them.  She has strong female characters and tender males (which, I'll be honest, confuse me sometimes).  I'm used to male authors who have graphic war scenes; however, with Anne Bishop, her war scenes are more anti-climatic, simply because the issues are solved in only a page.  As such, I feel almost cheated when, instead of going to war, Cassidy's Steward solves the issue by dividing the Territory.

Another disclaimer: the later books are milder than the first three.  The witches in the Dark Jewels Trilogy are much crueler and the rule under those Queens involved rape and torture to control their subjects.  Sometimes graphic, sometimes just implied, it is a way of life for the characters until Jaenelle created the Witch-Storm.  So, if you can't stomach that sort of thing, don't read the Trilogy.  It is possible to fully enjoy the series without having read the Trilogy.

Having said that, I would call this a chick lit series as there is a huge focus on family and family ties.  There is brotherhood between brothers, comrades and strangers with common goals.  Though the men can rise to "the killing edge" they are also quick to rein in their brothers, as well as offer advice and friendship which is something that you don't normally see in books with warriors.  Unless it's written by a female author.  The one thing that I think the author has nailed is the dynamics of female cattiness and female friendships.

While I do recommend the book and the series, I do think a reader's preferences for a series should be taken into account.  I personally really enjoy the series, but others may not.