The Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop is AMAZING! My favorite fantasy trilogy after Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. This is the first book, and it develops the characters, establishes the world, and sets the stage.

Jaenelle is Witch, dreams made flesh, but she is still a young child, and there are many trials she must face while learning to control the power of her black jewels.

I whore this trilogy out to anyone who will read it, but must get it back, so that I can reread it over and over again.