Queen of the Darkness (Dark Jewels Trilogy) Anne Bishop

Jaenelle Angelline now reigns as Queen-protector of the Shadow Realm. No longer will the corrupt Blood slaughter her people and defile her lands. But where one chapter ends, a final, unseen battle remains to be written, and Jaenelle must unleash the terrible power that is Witch to destroy her enemies once and for all.

Even so, she cannot stand alone. Somewhere, long lost in madness, is Daemon, her promised Consort. Only his unyielding love can complete her Court and secure her reign. Yet, even together, their strength may not be enough to hold back the most malevolent of forces.

This is the third of the trilogy and was my favorite. I feel like I finally got a grasp on all the characters and the strange world. I didn't realize how much I felt I was missing in the first two until I read this one and every thing really clicked together. It was good though I wish it could have went on for another chapter just cause the ending was a little abrupt, but it wasn't too bad, I guess we can just imagine what happens in the future. I'll have to reread this series sometime cause I think I will understand it much better. I give this 4 1/2 stars.

Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Book 2) by Anne Bishop

In this violently passionate, "darkly fascinating world,"** the Blood rule: a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels. Ambitions unfurl in this second novel of The Black Jewels Trilogy, as the realm's dreams of a liberator have finally been made flesh...

Jaenelle, singled out by prophecy as the living embodiment of magic, is haunted by the cruel battles the Blood have fought over her-for not all of them await her as their Savior. Nothing, however, can deflect her from her destiny-and the day of reckoning looms near. When her memories return. When her magic matures. When she is forced to accept her fate. On that day, the dark Realms will know what it means to be ruled by Witch.

I really enjoyed this book although it was a bit slow for me in the first half. The second half I didn't want to put down. Unfortunately I have a demanding 3 year old and I felt like I was rereading every paragraph because of all the interruptions. I can't wait to read the third book and hope there is more Daemon in it, which I assume there is. This book had more Lucivar and it was nice to get to know him. This is a great series, very creative. I rate it 4 stars.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was different from other vamp and vamp slayer books, but then they all have something different in them. Usually. Hopefully. I liked the main characters pretty well though maybe Jaz got a tad annoying at times. I would have liked to get to know Vayl a bit more cause I feel like I still don't really KNOW him. I will read the next book though and if it's good I'll continue on with this series. It's hard to know whether to rate this a 3 or a 3 1/2. I think I'll go with a 3 1/2 cause I think it really was pretty good and I can't pinpoint any certain thing that I really didn't like. I just didn't totally love it is all.