Book Review: The Hobbit SPOILERS!

In 1935, J.R.R. Tolkien published a tale known as The Hobbit. It stars and features a story around Bilbo Baggins. It's also, according to a friend of mine, intended to be a child's book, but the omniscient prose and lengthy story seem to hint that it's more adult, as the prose shows. Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

The novel opens with a lengthy description of a typical Hobbit hole/house and the Baggins family line. Eventually, we're introduced to Bilbo Baggins, who's a recluse and hates adventure. Gandalf shows up and asks for Bilbo's assistance as a thief for a dwarf treasure party led by Thorin Oakenshield, who wants to reclaim his family castle and treasure from the dragon, Smaug. Despite being reluctant and clumsy, trolls, goblins, large spiders, and the ever insane Gollum, Bilbo and company manage to make it to the Lonely Mountain. Despite his fears, Bilbo challenges Smaug. Smaug, angrily, attacks Bilbo and Thorin and the dwarves. They hole up in a hidden tunnel. Smaug then tries to kill the elves and humans in Esgaroth, but the Bard kills Smaug with a black arrow. The Bard attempts to talk to Thorin, but Thorin rejects all such things, even after Bilbo gives the Bard the Arkenstone of Thrain to use as a bargaining chip. A fight breaks out between the Bard and Thorin, drawing in the elves and dwarves over the stolen elven treasure and Arkenstone. The goblins attack, taking advantage of the fight to wreck vengeance on Dain, a relative of Thorin, and his band for the troubles that are never seen. Bilbo is knocked out during the fight and comes to just before Thorin dies of his wounds. Bilbo goes home and finds out that everyone, including his relatives, thought he was dead, and were in the process of auctioning off his stuff. Over the course of a few years, Bilbo is given back his possessions and is considered an oddity when he decides to continue to meet up with his dwarf and elven friends.

All in all, a decent novel if you can get past the pages of prose that do nothing except set up the landscape and family lines of certain characters. With certain content, it is not appropriate for children of any age. It also comes across as a Dungeons and Dragons RPG campaign without the looting from dead corpses.

Addendum: Also, during that fight between the elves and dwarves when the goblins start attacking, yeah. Apparently, there's something major that happens that the novel really brushes over because Bilbo is knocked unconscious. That major something happens to be that the elves and dwarves are fighting together for the first time EVARZZZZ! Yeah, I was being sarcastic when I wrote "evarzzzz." Tolkien really just brushes that fact aside with the goblins attacking both elves and dwarves that he turns around and knocks his main character unconscious so that we don't ever get to really see the whole damn event. That's a cheap and lazy way to speed up the end of a book, especially for a man who's got this weird love-affair/obsession with the English language. You'd think he'd try and describe the battle, but no, he just knocks Bilbo unconscious and then has him wake up after the battle. A very obsessed fan who's also a friend of mine pointed this out, ranting about it. Really, the entire affair was so small by comparison for someone to forget it. People forget most of Bujold's tiny details in her books and do just fine. It's only the major, hardcore, obsessive fans who nitpick at things like this. I mean, really, how many of you actually recognized that as a momentus event? Be honest.

Book Review: A Black Jewels Novel: The Shadow Queen SPOILERS!

In 2009, Anne Bishop returned to her Black Jewels series with another tale but this time, the setting is in Terreille, in Dena Nehele. Synopsis: Dena Nehele is a decimated land. Once it was ruled by the corrupt Queens, who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now only one hundred Warlord Princes stand...without a leader and without hope. Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who knows Protocol, remembers the Blood's code of honor, and lives by the Old Ways. Languishing in the Shadow Realm, Lady Cassidy is a Queen without a court, a castoff. But when she is chosen to rule Dena Nehele, she must convince bitter men to serve once again. Theran's cousin Gray is a Warlord Prince who was damaged in mind and body by the vicious Queens who once ruled Dena Nehele. Yet something about Cassidy makes him want to serve--and makes him believe he can be made whole again. And only Cassidy can prove to Gray--and to herself--that wounds can heal and even the whisper of a promise can be fulfilled.

Two years ago in Terreille, the Warlord Princes were still fighting, both against the twisted Queens and the landen. Theran Grayhaven, descendant of Jared and Lia, looks over his families former estate before rejoining the fight. He and the rest of the Warlord Princes have been on a non-stop killing spree since Jaenelle's Witch Storm. Two years later, Theran calls all the Warlord Princes left in Dena Nehele, including his rival Ranon, a Shaladoran, and Talon, who has survived all these years as demon dead. He wants to bring back the Old Ways of the Blood and says he's going to Kaeleer to find Daemon Sadi, because he owes his family a debt. After several bouts of stupidity on Theran's part, including insulting Saetan SaDiablo and Jaenelle, he finally meets Daemon and tells him that Dena Nehele needs a Queen. Jaenelle, via Daemon and Saetan, suggests Cassidy. Cassidy hasn't been ruling since a young Queen named Kermilla took (read: stole) her court. One of Jaenelle's former First Circle court member, Aaron--who is a distant cousin of Cassidy's--wants to remove Kermilla for her betrayal. Cassidy wants to put it all behind her. She agrees to Jaenelle's suggestion. When Theran meets her, he takes an instant dislike to her because she's not attractive. The whole SaDiablo family turns cold toward him, and after agreeing to take Cassidy, since she's the only choice, and Vae, a Purple Dusk Sceltie who has yet to make the Offering to receive her higher Jewel.

They go to Dena Nehele. Once there, she finds the eleven men willing to serve, including Ranon and Talon; Theran has no choice because he signed a contract and is the final Warlord Prince. Ranon's lover, Shira, a Black Widow, becomes the court's healer. Cassidy takes a break and goes to visit the damaged gardens where she meets Gray and the link between them is forged because she cares for the land. Because of this, the secrets surrounding the Grayhaven estate become unraveled. The old honey pear tree, long dead, breaks and underneath are several preserved saplings as well as a pot containing a key. Cassidy demands to meet with the other Queens of Dena Nehele that are left and Theran blocks her every move. Talon goes to the Keep and meets Saetan where he finds out that Cassidy was chosen by Witch to serve and berates Theran for not asking questions. When Cassidy's moon time comes, Vae goes to the SaDiablo's for help on Lucivar's instructions. Cassidy takes refuge from the members of her court in Gray's shed in the gardens. Gray begins to wake up from his torture and claims Cassidy for his own. Lucivar arrives and sorts things out and suggests to Daemon and Saetan that they invite Cassidy, Theran, and Gray over so Gray can get first hand experience with interacting with people. Gray takes a liking to the SaDiablo's while Theran just wants to hide. Saetan sets some rules for their courtship and Lucivar decides how fast things will happen.

Back in Dena Nehele, Vae sniffs out where the key belongs. It unlocks a hidden compartment under Lia's old bed and in there are several journals from Lia's life, as well as her death (written by Thera) and another box that, when the bottom breaks, reveals another key. Following Lia's written advice about living [Cassidy's] life, Cassidy puts the key aside and focuses on ruling her court. She demands to go into town, and Theran--like he's been doing since she arrived--blocks her, but Talon and the whole court stands with her. Ranon uses this as an excuse to visit the Shalador Queens and brings back a few flowers that resemble the ones in a journal that Gray received from Cassidy's mother. In secret, Gray builds a garden and restores the area behind the house. Much to Theran's dismay, Cassidy protects a landen family from being assaulted by Blood males. She "draws the line" and her court, including Theran, backs her. The final spell is broken and Cassidy, after a restless night, hunts for the place where the key belongs. In the attic, she finds a trunk and places the key inside it. A bookcase swings open to reveal a room full of treasures and several paintings of Jared and Lia plus Blaed and Thera. She tells the court, who's been worried sick since she vanished, and gives Theran a letter addressed to him from Lia. Things look like they're going to improve for Dena Nehele.

A subplot involves Daemon in a state similar to the rut that Warlord Princes get. His other personality, the Sadist, comes out to play with Jaenelle but she doesn't make the transition to Witch and Daemon wonders if he hurt her. Jaenelle's fine and Daemon begins to relax. On a trip, a woman tries to seduce Daemon and he threatens her. Saetan over hears this and slips into the Twisted Kingdom and sets a trap that kills the woman. Jaenelle warns Daemon and Lucivar about their father being in the Twisted Kingdom and they help him out.

All in all, Anne Bishop has shown a remarkable skill for her series and the way a court is formed around a foreign Queen. The characters are great and the setting is one that is vivid enough to picture the places. Another great read from Anne Bishop.