For me, this is a tough review. At first, I was pretty sure I'd been steered wrong with this one. The scenes through the first section of the book are very choppy, and I had a hard time switching between characters so quickly, especially since I didn't know them quite yet. I also found the magic of this world a little bit confusing, although I did appreciate that it was unique. 
 That said, there's something engaging about the characters that still had my mind going back to them after I'd put down the book. That's when I know a character has grabbed me. 
 Might be a tough read for some, all the sex is coerced and there are multiple instances of child abuse. Though it's handled in the best way possible, some of it is difficult to get through. 
 The world of the Black Jewels is a dark one, and that's a big plus for me. Interesting characters battling oppression is the way to my heart, so even though I wasn't particularly a fan of the style of writing, I am going back for more. Especially because I didn't get enough Lucivar in the first one!