The invitation is signed “Jaenelle Angelline,” and it summons her family to an entertainment she had specially prepared. Surreal SaDiablo, former courtesan and assassin, arrives first. But when she enters the house, Surreal finds herself trapped in a living nightmare created by the tangled webs of Black Widow witches…and if she uses Craft to defend herself, she risks being sealed in the house forever.

But Jaenelle did not send the invitation. And now Jaenelle and her family must rescue Surreal and the others inside without becoming trapped themselves-and then discover who has created such a place, and why…

Last year I had the pleasure of reading Bishop’s Black Jewels trilogy {see review}; I took the omnibus edition home and devoured it in less then a week. In that span of time I became a fan of Bishop’s writing and fell hard for the characters she created. Suffice to say, I was thrilled when the author put the word out that she was planning on writing a full length novel that would take readers back to the world of the Blood. And, yes, I pounced on Tangled Webs the day it was released, finishing it late that evening.

Undoubtedly, you will appreciate this novel more for having read the trilogy first, but…What Bishop has done with Tangled Webs is fantastic. She has taken a world that was often brutal and dark, a trilogy that focused on traditional fantasy elements, and has introduced the pacing and hook of a suspense novel. What that translates into is a compulsive reading experience that will leave you wanting more.

To date, Tangled Webs rates as one of the best reads of the year for me. I absolutely cannot wait to visit with Lucivar and Daemon again, and have taken heart by a mention at the beginning of this book which hinted at the possibility of more to come.