That is a good quote from Heir to the Shadows. There is a definite sense of humor in these books and passages that I read over and over again. The violence is usually not too graphic, but I always thought that the first book of the series is the darkest, except a for one section near the end of the last book. You mentioned earlier that the main character seems to be desexualized, there are reasons for it, but sexual awakening happens more in the third book, even though it is never graphic. That scene is actually kind of funny and light-hearted.

In many ways, I think The Invisible Ring, set years earlier in the same universe, is a better book. It's a tighter story with fewer characters and without as many shifts of pov. It also has the same type of humor and the characters are not as powerful as in the Black Jewels trilogy.

I hope you enjoy the series.