The Black Jewels

Three words to describe the Black Jewels Trilogy: Over the top. Terrible things happen in this book, but they're written with so much drama that you can't take them too seriously or you'd go batshit.This trilogy is original in an unusual way: The protagonist's story is told through the eyes of another. (Think, Gatsby. Minus the depth, world-class writing and classic status.) Janaelle, the trilogy's heroine, is only ever seen through the perspective of her family and loved ones. It's an interesting way to watch a story unfold, and it's enhanced by a clever magic system and well-developed world. It's not always very well balanced – there should be more detail about how the magic system works, for example – but the relationships that underlie the plot are believable.There's a lot wrong with these books, which is unfortunate because her idea to invert standard fantasy tropes is a great one. In the hands of a better writer and without having to adhere to expectations of a paranormal romance, this could have been a fascinating springboard for a series. Unfortunately, Bishop's melodramatic writing style and flimsy plots ruin this promise and has the opposite effect of making it seem like a childish attempt at writing something subversive.This isn't one of those books you'll want to dwell on for too long – the way in which the terrible things that happen is written makes it a jarring experience. And one that, if you think about it too hard, could evoke some intense anger toward Bishop's inability to write with any kind of gravitas.One last thing. The only time it's ok to force people to read a spoiler is when it should come with a trigger warning. There's a brutal rape scene in the book. It's not treated delicately either.