The universe that this book is set in is split into two parts - the land of the living and, below that, the land of the living-dead: Hell. The land of the living is ruled primarily by female witches of the incredibly cruel variety who specialise in torture, and the colour of the jewel you wear dictates your place in society - black being the most powerful kind. The witch, Hekatah, rules over all, with Dorothea as a sort of second in command, and together they've created a world where no one is safe.
But things are about to change. Someone is coming - a witch so powerful that things will change forever. But will she be good or will she be evil? Daemon Sadi, one of Dorothea's sex slaves, himself a powerful warlord and son of Saeton, who rules Hell, knows instinctively that he was made to follow and love the coming Witch. But where is she? When will she come? The one who can eventually answer this question is Saeton. He is visited in Hell one day by a young girl, named Jaenelle, who has found a way to bridge the gap between the land of the living and Hell. She shouldn't be able to do this but she can and thinks nothing of it. The one known as 'Witch' has arrived and Saeton is very soon in thrall to this beguiling child.
Jaenelle asks him to teach her basic 'craft', a sort of magic, at which she is very poor. Saeton soon discovers that the girl's powers are so strong that she can do things way beyond her age and thus, basic craft is below her; he has to start at an advanced level and work back.
Meanwhile, Daemon Sadi has committed a heinous crime and has been sent off to the island of Chaillot; the Angelline family who rule the island are the only ones willing to take him in. Here Daemon discovers three generations of women, grandmother, daughter and a grandaughter, Wilhelmemina. It doesn't take him long to find out that Wilhelmina has a sister who has been sent away to an institution for the mentally disturbed. Something drives him on to discover who this girl is, but before long the girl returns in a pretty dreadful condition and Daemon Sadi experiences a profound shock. Where the girl has been and what happened to her is the central theme of this book and estranged father and son, Saeton and Daemon, find themselves working together to solve the mystery and to try and ensure that the girl survives.
I should probably start with a warning and that is to say that this book might not be for everyone. Some of the themes within are extremely adult in a sexual manner and I've seen a couple of reviews on Amazon where the reviewer has found the book deeply unpleasant - and I can understand why. That said, I have to add that 'most people' seem to love it and I did too. Likely as not Daughter of the Blood will be one of my books of the year in fact. Why? Well, amazing world building for a start. Bishop has created a universe which is totally believable. And characterisation - I adored Daemon Sadi, he's wicked but good if that makes sense and the same goes for Saeton, his father. Both characters are beautifully drawn. I *did* feel slightly that the female witch characters were almost caricatures... a bit too evil with all the cliched wickedness you can think of, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment at all.
I will say also that it did take me a while to get into the book. It's complicated at first with many new characters appearing in a few pages and I must admit to being a bit confused at times. In fact it wasn't until about 100 pages in that something suddenly clicked and *then* I knew I was reading a little gem. Or perhaps I should say a *big* gem because really I have to admit to being blown away by it. Such fantastic writing, a plot that's pacey and very much edge-of-your-seat stuff, and characters that you really find yourself rooting for and wanting to win out. Brilliant. Book two is on the way - I wish it was here already to be honest. If you're going to read Daughter of the Blood I'd say make sure you have Heir to the Shadows on hand before you start. I'm as enthused with this series as I am with Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson books and that's saying something. Both series have that certain something that make me love them... and if I knew what it was I'd bottle it and make myself a fortune!
Also reviewed at:
The Written World
7 comments:
I read the first two books in this series and stalled! I really must get cracking on the rest. :)
I found your review via the Google book blog search engine, Kelly, and have put a link to it on my review. Did you like the second book as much as the first one?
Utoh, lol she's off and running on yet ANother series!! haha.. but glad you are liking it so much!
at the moment I couldn't get interested in any book.. I have brain mush. I feel like all I want to do is absolutely nothing! I don't want to read or think or do anything... I hope this will pass soon~
Hi Pat! Yeah, yet another new series. LOL. The only thing I would say is that I did list it in my 'series' post as one I wanted to start, so at least isn't completely new. Much.
I expect you're feeling disorientated like, Boo Boo, Pat. I hope it soon passes too as it must be miserable.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Cath! There were certain things regarding gender in the books that rubbed me the wrong way, but I loved the story and the characters so much that I didn't let them bother me as much as usual.
I'm glad you enjoyed this one, too. I've read the first two and somehow never got to the third. They are very emotionally engaging, and I think I needed a bit of a break after #2. I'm hoping to get to #3 soon, though!
Nymeth: Did you review the book somewhere on your blog? I would *love* to read your thoughts as so much about this book is kind of controversial and so on. Some of it bothered me... the scene where an audience watched as something was done to a man - I expect you know which I mean - and the whole abuse thing. I *should* have been bothered by the (trying to avoid spoilers here), shall we say, 'inappropriate' romance in it but found I wasn't and actually liked that aspect of it. Like you said, I just loved the characters so much that what I disliked failed to bother me too much.
Darla: I know what you mean about needing a break. It's an emotionally charged book, to be honest, so much in it is horrifying or questionable. I think I'd better send for book 3 pretty soon though, as I know I'll want to read that after book 2.
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