A Bargain with the Shadow Queen: A Dark Sapphic Retelling of the Classic Beauty & the Beast

by Nyx Wood

Ameri Morrel has had bad days. But being thrust into a realm of shadows, one she never even knew existed? That was a new low.

Now she has to find her way back home. Back to her life dodging pretentious male suitors and wearing tight little corsets. That's what she wants. The world of shadows is too different, too weird. The women wear slacks, for gods' sake.

Luck sends her right into the lap of the realm's queen: a towering, vicious woman who looks more like a soldier than a ruler. A woman whose dark eyes watch her like she's something to eat. Unfortunately for Ameri, a bargain with the broody, shadow-wielding demon might be her only way out.

Renna had just about given up trying to break the curse. So when a cute little human with angry hazel eyes shows up, smelling deliciously like cherries and demanding her help, she's completely disarmed. Disarmed and enthralled. There's no way for the little human to get back home. But Renna just can't resist. A promise to help the woman find a way, in exchange for a little taste...

Except, once she has a taste, she's not sure she can let her go.


This novella is complete with a HEA. It is the first in a series of standalones and is told in first-person alternating POVs. Trigger Warnings include sexual content, death, and violence. Details inside.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, Erotica, Romance, LGBT, Adult

245 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2024

Reviews

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was fun! And really, really steamy. I liked the characters and the world building was intriguing. However, the romance between Renna and Ameri felt a bit…off. They jump into sex immediately and there was no build up. I wanted more moments of them just being together and not just sex. I feel like they lacked chemistry so when we got to the ‘I love you’ between them I just wasn’t buying it unfortunately.

Both characters are bad ass and head strong women and the sex scenes were great but I just wanted a bit more to the relationship. I did however like the writing style, the plot, and the world building was great. I also think that the author did a nice job giving Beauty & the Beast a new twist and I like what she did with the story and how fresh and different it felt. Overall, this was still great and I will definitely read book two when it comes out.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish authors would take the time building a connection between the characters before jumping straight into dubious consent (at best).

[The.SmuttyBookClub · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Please note that this review is mainly for my benefit as it is more of a summary of the book and may contain spoilers.***

🌶🌶
[v] Abduction
[v] Actor M
[v] Addiction (M
[v] Adopted Siblings
[v] Adoption (she adopts her younger brother, in the past on page)
[v] Adult breastfeeding
[v] Age Gap (21 F, 23 M, & 32 M
[v] Age play
[v] Airplane Sex
[v] Alien M
[v] Alpha/Bega/Omega (omega F, omega M, beta M, Alpha F, alpha M)
[v] Amnesia
[v] Anal
[v] F to F anal
[v] F to M anal
[v] M to F anal
[v] M to M anal
[v] NB to M anal
[v] Anal Beads
[v] Anal Felching
[v] Anal Fisting
[v] F to F anal fisting
[v] M to F anal fisting
[v] M to M anal fisting
[v] Anal Gaping
[v] Anal Hook
[v] Anal Knotting
[v] Anal Play
[v] F to F anal play
[v] F to M anal play
[v] M to F anal play
[v] M to M anal play
[v] Anal Rimming
[v] F to F anal rimming
[v] F to M anal rimming
[v] M to F anal rimming
[v] M to M anal rimming
[v] Anthology
[v] Anxiety Attacks
[v] Arranged Marriage (marriage contract)
[v] Arrangement
[v] Artist M
[v] Assault (
[v] Auction
[v] Auralism Kink (sounds and voices)
[v] Author M
[v] "Baby Boy"
[v] "Baby Girl "
[v] Bar Sex
[v] Baseball/MLB 2 MLB players
[v] Bath Sex
[v] Bathroom Sex
[ ] Begging
[v] Ben Wa Balls
[v] Belt
[v] Best Friend's Brother
[v] Best Friend's Dad
[v] Best Friend's Daughter
[v] Best Friend's Mom
[v] Best Friend's Son
[v] Bi-Awakening
[v] Billionaire M
[v] Birth Control Tampering
[ ] Biting
[v] Blackmail
[v] Blood Kink
[v] Blood-Play
[v] Blue Collar (mechanic F & M)
[v] Body Guard
[v] Boat sex
[v] Bookstore Sex
[v] Branding (F's ex tattooed her by force
[v] Brat
[v] Breast Binding
[v] Breath-Play
[v] Breeding Bench
[v] Breeding Kink
[v] Brother's Best Friend
[v] Bully to Lover
[v] Butt Plug
[v] CSA (Child Sexual Assault) in M's past, off page
[v] Cage
[v] Candaulism Kink (desire to show off one's partner)
[v] Cane
[v] Car Sex
[v] Carriage sex
[v] Cat of Nine Tails
[v] Chastity Cage
[v] Cheating (MMC's Ex cheats with MFC's husband, in past, off page, MFC cheats on husband with MMC
[v] Chef F
[v] Child Abuse (in F's past, off page
[v] Childbirth (on page
[v] Childhood Friends
[v] Choking
[v] Christmas
[v] Church Sex
[v] Classroom sex
[v] Claws
[v] Clit Clamp
[v] Closet Sex
[v] Cock and Balls Harness
[v] Cock Piercing(s)
[v] Cock Ring
[v] Cock Sleeve
[v] Cock Warming
[v] CNC (Consensual Non-Consent)
[v] Collar
[v] College Romance
[v] Communication Barrier
[v] Cousins (not blood related)
[v] Cowboy M
[v] Cozy
[v] "Crawl to Me"
[v] Crime
[v] Cuckhold
[v] Cult (she escaped religious cult
[v] Cum Kink
[v] Cumming in his pants
[v] Cutting
[v] "Daddy "
[v] Dad's Best Friend
[v] DADVP (Double Anal and Double Vaginal Penetration)
[v] DAVP (Double Anal and Vaginal Penetration) with fist (P) and anal hook and cock (A)
[v] Dark Romance
[v] Daughter's Boyfriend
[v] Death of a Child (in M's past, off page)
[v] Death of Parent (in F & Ms past, off page)
[v] Death of a Sibling (in F's past, off page)
[v] Death of a Spouse (in M's pastoff page)
[v] Degradation
[v] Demisexual M
[v] Dentist F
[v] Dildo
[v] Dining Room Sex
[v] Disability (M, T1 diabetic)
[v] Dissociation
[v] Divorced M
[v] Doctor M
[v] Doll play
[v] Dom and Sub
[v] Dom and Subs
[v] Doms and Sub
[v] Doms and Subs
[ ] Domme and Sub
[v] Domme and Subs
[v] Dommes and Sub
[v] Dommes and Subs
[v] Domestic Voilence (F, on page
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers
[v] DP (Double Penetration) with cock (P) and vibrator (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with dildo (P) and fingers (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with vibrator (P) and anal beads (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and fingers (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with two cocks
[v] DP (double penetration) with finger (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with vibrator (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with vibrator
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with fist (P) and anal hook (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with dildo (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and knife hilt(A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and tentacle (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and anal beads (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with zucchini (P) and large candy cane (A)
[ ] Drinking Blood
[v] Drug Use (weed)
[v] Drugging (not to or by MCs)
[v] DUBCON (Dubious Consent)
[v] DVAP (Double Vainal and Anal Penetration) with cock and Vibrating bulb (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with cock and fingers
[v] DVP (Double vaginal penetration) with vibrator and fingers
[v] DVP (Double vaginal penetration) with vibrator and cock
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with cock and dildo
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with two cocks
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with fingers and tentacle
[v] Eating Disorder
[v] Edging
[v] Electrical Stimulation
[v] Elevator Sex
[v] Enema
[v] Enemies to Lovers
[v] Engaged M (not to each other)
[v] Ex's Dad
[v] Ex's Uncle
[v] Ex-Convict M, he escapes prison
[v] Exhibitionism
[v] F Masturbation
[v] F Virgin
[ ] FF
[ ] F to F oral
[v] .FFF
[v] FFM
[v] FMF
[v] FFFF
[v] FFFM
[v] FFMF
[v] FFMM
[v] FMFM
[v] FMMF
[v] FMMM
[v] FFMMM
[v] FMMMF
[v] FMMMM
[v] Face Fucking
[v] FaceTime Sex
[v] Fairy
[v] Fairytale Retelling (Cinderella
[v] Fake dating
[v] Fake engagement
[v] Fall/Autumn
[ ] Fangs
[v] Fantasy
[ ] Fated Mates
[v] Feeding Kink
[v] Feet Fucking
[v] Flogger
[v] Food Play (he pours whiskey down her pussy
[v] Foot Fetish
[v] Football/NFL 2 NFL players
[v] Forced Marriage (MMC secretly files Marriage certificate without MFCs knowledge)
[v] Forced Orgasms
[v] Forced Proximity
[v] Four cocks
[v] Free Use
[v] Friends-to-Lovers
[v] Friends with Benefits
[v] Frotting (Jacking off two dicks together with one hand)
[v] Fucking machine
[v] G-Spot Stimulator
[v] Garage Sex
[v] Gaslighting
[v] Gay awakening
[v] Glory Hole
[v] "Goddess"
[v] Gods (Dragon shifter god M)
[v] Golden retriever M
[v] Golden Shower (peeing on someone)
[v] Grumpy and Sunshine
[v] Gun-Play
[v] Gym Sex
[v] Hair-Pulling
[v] Halloween
[v] Harness
[v] He didnt know she was a virgin
[v] He falls first
[v] Heartbreak
[v] Heat/Rut
[v] Hidden Cameras
[v] Hidden Identity
[v] Hockey/NHL 3 high school player
[v] Hood
[v] Horns
[v] Horror
[v] Hospital Sex
[v] Hot Tub Sex
[v] Hotel Sex
[v] HUCOW
[v] Humiliation
[v] Imprisonment
[v] Incest, CSA in M's past, off page
[v] Infertility F (in past, off page
[v] Interracial (black M, 2 white M's & white F)
[v] Jacob's Ladder Piercings
[v] Kendo Sticks
[v] Kinging (face-sitting)
[v] Kitchen Sex
[v] Knife-Play (no cutting, he just runs the dull side of the blade on her skin
[v] Knot
[v] Labia Clamps
[v] Lactation Kink
[v] Lake Sex
[v] Laundry Room Sex
[v] Lawyer M
[v] Leash
[v] Library Sex
[v] Limo Sex
[v] Lip Piercing
[v] "Little Girl"
[v] Locker Room Sex
[v] Love triangle
[v] M Masturbation
[v] M Virgin
[v] MF
[v] F to M oral
[v] M to F oral
[v] MM
[v] M to M oral
[v] M to NB oral
[v] MFM
[v] MMF
[v] MMM
[v] MFFM
[v] MFMM
[v] MMMF
[v] MMMM
[v] MMFMF
[v] MMMFF
[v] "Ma'am"
[v] Make-a-Baby Arrangement
[v] Marriage of Convenience
[v] Married Couple
[v] "Madame"
[v] "Master"
[v] Mask
[v] Mating Mark
[v] Medical condition (diabetic M&
[v] Medical experiments
[v] Medical play
[v] Mental illness (D.I.D. M)
[v] Military (veteran F
[v] Milking Machine
[v] Miscarriage (in F's past, off page)
[v] "Mistress"
[v] Mistaken identity
[v] "Mommy"
[v] Mom's best friend
[v]
[ ] Monster (demon F
[v] Motel sex
[v] Motorcycle club
[v] Mouth Gag (ball gag
[v] Mummification
[v] Murder
[v] Mutual Masturbation
[v] Muzzle
[v] Nanny
[v] NBF
[v] F to NB oral
[v] NB to F oral
[v] NBM
[v] M to NB oral
[v] NB to M oral
[v] NBFM
[v] NBMM
[v] Necrophilia kink
[v] Needle Play/Kink
[v] Neighbors
[v] Neurodivergent M, can't process or name emotions
[v] Nipple Clamps
[v] Nipple Enlargers
[v] Nipple Piercing(s) F
[v] No Happily Ever After
[v] Non-Binary (NB)
[v] NC (non-consent)
[v] Novella
[v] Nurse F
[v] Office Sex
[v] One Night Stand
[v] Orgy
[v] Outdoor Sex (
[v] Overdose
[v] Paddle
[v] Panic attack(s) F
[v] Pansexual
[v] Paralytic Poison
[v] Pegging
[v] Period Sex
[v] "Pet"
[v] Pet Play (Cow)
[v] Phone Sex
[v] Piercing
[v] Pillory
[v] Pinwheel
[v] Pleasure Dom
[v] Plus Sized FMC
[v] Plus Sized MMC
[v] Pocket Pussy
[v] Police Officer ( M
[v] Politics (president M, first lady F, and vice president M)
[v] Polyamory (MMFFMM
[v] Pool Sex
[v] Postapolyptic
[v] Praise
[v] Pregnancy (Epilogue
[v] Pregnancy Sex (Epilogue
[v] Prehensile Cock
[v] Prehensile Tail
[v] Preacher/School headmaster M
[v] Primal Play/Kink
[v] Prince Albert Piercing
[v] "Princess"
[v] Professional domme
[v] Professor F
[v] Prostate Massager
[v] Psychiatrist F
[v] PTSD
[v] Public Bathroom Sex
[v] Public Sex (alley, park [at night]
[v] Punishment
[v] "Pup"
[v] Pussy Pump
[v] "Queen"
[ ] Queening (face sitting)
[v] Rape (2 M rape M, on page)
[v] Reincarnation
[v] Remote Controlled Vibrator
[v] Restaurant Sex
[ ] Restraints (shadows
[v] Reverse Age Gap (25 M & 32 F
[v] Reverse Harem (1 F & 3 M's)
[v] Riding Crop
[v] Rock Star M
[v] Role Playing
[v] Roommates
[v] Rose Toy
[ ] Royalty (demon queen
[v] Rugby (former player M
[v] SA (Sexual Assault) (F, on page
[v] Saw Horse
[v] Schizophrenia
[v] Scissoring
[v] Scratching
[v] Second Chance Romance
[v] Secret baby
[v] Secret Society
[v] Selective Mutism
[v] Self harm (in F's past)
[v] Sentient Object(s)
[v] Serial Killer M
[v] Sex Club
[v] Sex in a Corm Maze
[v] Sex in the Woods
[v] Sex lessons
[v] Sex on a Carousel
[v] Sex on a Motorcycle
[v] Sex on a Piano
[v] Sex Swing
[v] Sex Tape
[v] Sex trafficking
[v] Sex Worker (stripper F
[v] Sexting
[ ] Shape-Shifting
[v] Shaving kink
[v] Shibari
[v] Shock Collar
[v] Shower Sex
[v] Single Dad
[v] Single Mom
[v] "Sir"
[v] Sissy Man
[ ] Size Difference
[v] Slapping (breasts
[v] Slit
[v] Slow burn
[v] Small Town
[v] Snowballing (passing cum from one mouth to another)
[v] Soccer (pro player
[v] Social Media Influencer
[v] Somnophilia
[v] Son's best friend
[v] Sounding
[v] Spanking
[v] Spanking Bench
[v] Spitting (on pussy
[v] Spreader Bar
[v] Squirting
[v] St. Andrew's Cross
[v] Stalker (not MC
[v] Stepdad
[v] Step uncle & step neice
[v] Strap-On Dildo
[v] Step Cousins
[v] Step Siblings (did not grow up together)
[v] Stepbrothers
[v] Stepsisters
[v] Stockade
[v] Suicide (not a main character)
[v] Suicide Attempt (in F's past, off page)
[v] Suspension
[v] Swingers
[v] Tail
[v] Tangy Dinger (giving blow job after doing anal)
[v] Tattoo Artist F & M
[v] Teacher F & principal M
[v] Teenagers
[v] Temperature Play (ice
[v] Tentacles
[v] Terminal Illness
[v] Thanksgiving
[v] Therapist
[v] Titty Fucking
[v] Tongue Ring F
[v] Torture
[v] TVP (Triple Vaginal Penetration) with three tentacles
[v] Two Cocks
[v] Unplanned Pregnancy (
[v] Vaccuum Play
[v] Vaginal Felching
[v] Vaginal Fisting
[v] Vaginal Gaping
[v] Vaginal Knotting
[v] Vaginal penetration with tequila bottle
[v] Vaginal Piercings (
[v] Vanilla
[v] Vibrating bullet
[v] Vibrating cock
[v] Vibrating egg
[v] Vibrating Tongue
[v] Vibrating Wand
[v] Vibrator
[v] Vision Deprivation (blindfold
[ ] Voyeurism
[v] War
[v] Watching Porn
[v] Wedding (Epilogue)
[v] Wet Dreams
[v] Whip
[v] Why choose
[v] Widow
[v] Wings
[v] Workplace Romance
[v] Yacht

7 FF

[Babs E · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved loved loved

Im surprised at how much I loved this book. It was sweet and passionate but also intriguing and layered. I love that Ameri had a voice and used it. I can’t wait for more from this author!

[S. Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters were interesting, the plot engaging, and the spice was plentiful and varied. If you like vampires, women with swords, and the Touch Her and Die trope then you should definitely read this.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, dark fantasy romance. It had an interesting twist on demons that I enjoyed. They were like a mix of demons and vampires, but it worked well. I loved all the characters, including Deven and Ceri. Didn't get to see much of Lilith, but I assume we'll see more of her as well as the other two in the next book based on the author note at the end of this book.

The romance between Ameri and Renna was extra spicy. I'm not sure I enjoyed how much voyeurism was involved considering it was a mono romance. If it had been more poly or open it would have been different I think. There is chemistry between Ameri and Renna from the moment they see each other, and if anything it only gets hotter as they spend time together and get to know each other. And as physical as it was, I didn't feel like the emotional development was neglected either.

There is no third act breakup. There is a small part of the book where the MCs are seperated, but it is brief and full of action that speeds up the reading. I didn't expect the ending of the curse to work out the way that it did, but it kind of works especially if the next book is what I think it is. So looking forward to that.

[Robin Clairvaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling Sapphic Romantasy

When Ameri suddenly gets swept from her privileged but restrictive life into the Shadow Realm, she’s enthralled by the magical world with its warrior demon women ruled by the alluring Queen Renna, even as she seeks to find a way home. But the path to freedom turns out to be just as complicated as her growing feelings for the Shadow Queen.

A Bargain with the Shadow Queen has an appealing blend of adventure, world-building, romance, and spice. Ameri and Renna are both interesting and engaging characters on their own, and the author does an excellent job of developing their physical and emotional chemistry as a couple. The romance keeps the pages turning as does the intrigue and danger that wait around every corner of the darkly beautiful Shadow Realm.

Fans of sapphic romantasy with gutsy women and powerful Amazonian queens will love A Bargain with the Shadow Queen.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want there to be at least 10 of these books in the series. Those MCs. I’m dead. Drooling and dead. Mother of all that is holy, a hungry demon has a human fall through the shadows into her lap and just queue my murmuring sapphic heartbeat. Those steamy scenes?? Just, pace thyself. Do not read in public. The chemistry? You can smell it, bunson burners set to full tilt boogie!

When the next book is released I’ll be rereading this one to enjoy the hours of deliciousness before adventuring into the next fray! I’m sooooo excited!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot sapphic demons - sign me up for more!

This was a great dark & spicy sapphic romp through the Shadow Realm. I’d choose to spend forever surrounded by these kinky tattooed demon warriors over the real world any day! Kudos to the author for some really efficient world-building in a 200-page story. Definitely looking forward to the next one in the series!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, fated mates is growing on me and I love a good Shadow Mommy (Daddy? 🤭) if I had a complaint it was towards the end felt like things were left unfinished with Dev and Lilith, so I was delighted to see the story will continue and they will get their own story in their own book so I look forward to that

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gave me everything i wanted 😍😍

[Abby Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found a new author to follow. This book was really good. Well written. Great story. I feel like there’s a lot more to come in this series.

Plot 5/5
Spice 4/5

[TJ Phillips]

No connection