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Vampire Court #8
Black Bishop
Nyro can’t trust anyone—not even Bianca.
Lies and intrigue surround Nyro at every turn.
His hope of ever freeing his little brother dies a little every day, and things never appear as bleak as when the woman he loves fights against him.
Immerse yourself in Vampire Court, an addicting fantasy series by USA Today Bestselling Author Ingrid Seymour.
- GenresAudiobook
82 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2019
14 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Ingrid Seymour
110 books965 followersIngrid Seymour is a USA Today Bestselling Author. When she’s not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror.
Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true.
She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Ossie.
Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true.
She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Ossie.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 20, 2019
This book tells the story of “White Bishop” from Nyro’s point of view. When they met, Bianca warned Nyro to look out for the Bishops, but Nyro did not tell her, that Bishop Dragoslav already had it in for him. Someone also needs to warn Bishop Dragoslav, that she is playing a very dangerous game – pitting herself against the King’s favourite, threatening the King’s Trove, and actively trying to thwart the King’s wishes, with regard to Nyro retrieving the Queen’s sceptre. She claims that she is protecting her brother, the King, from what she sees as Nyro’ ambition to usurp the King, but it does not seem to occur to her that to usurp the King, first Nyro must defeat a Bishop. And surely he would chose to kill the bishop, who has been making his life a misery – rather than Bishop Balan, who has been a disinterested bystander.
Apart from being rather dense, Bishop Dragoslav is also extremely evil – perhaps much more so than her brother. She is responsible for Nyro’s worst possible nightmare coming true. The ultimate horror only being stopped in the nick of time by the intervention of the King.
Nyro did not want to become a knight. Neither does he want to become a Bishop nor the King. He just wants to save Timotei, and hopefully also Bianca and retain some portion of his humanity. However, he may not have a choice.
The King is an enigma. What he stands for is evil by most people’s standards, but he does show occasional mercy and kindness that are not always cynical actions to further his plans. He can also be quite philosophical:
“There is no right or wrong, Nyro … There is only what we want and what we need. They are two different things, people will argue. It’s all right to take what we need, they will tell you. And it is wrong to wish for more than that. But is it? … Who is to decide that what you want isn’t needed? We all strive to be happy. It is a mandate from the gods. We are taught from an early age that being sad is wrong and being happy is right, that we must strive to earn comfort and abundance, things well beyond what is needed. And yet, we’re told we should not want. Quite contradictory, don’t you think?”
This can be used to justify his despotic reign and blood lust, but also has some truth too it. Who should decide what is needful? Should the well-off decide that the poor, and those on benefits do not need a television (cheapest type of entertainment), or a computer (access to the internet and world), or books???
I am fascinated to discover what will be in the last two books. What will happen if the King gets the sceptre? What does the prophecy actually mean? Will it come true? What will happen to Bianca, Nyro, Timotei and Talyssa? What about the King and Queen, the rest of their courts? Will any part of their humanity exist at the end? I can hardly wait to find out.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
Apart from being rather dense, Bishop Dragoslav is also extremely evil – perhaps much more so than her brother. She is responsible for Nyro’s worst possible nightmare coming true. The ultimate horror only being stopped in the nick of time by the intervention of the King.
Nyro did not want to become a knight. Neither does he want to become a Bishop nor the King. He just wants to save Timotei, and hopefully also Bianca and retain some portion of his humanity. However, he may not have a choice.
The King is an enigma. What he stands for is evil by most people’s standards, but he does show occasional mercy and kindness that are not always cynical actions to further his plans. He can also be quite philosophical:
“There is no right or wrong, Nyro … There is only what we want and what we need. They are two different things, people will argue. It’s all right to take what we need, they will tell you. And it is wrong to wish for more than that. But is it? … Who is to decide that what you want isn’t needed? We all strive to be happy. It is a mandate from the gods. We are taught from an early age that being sad is wrong and being happy is right, that we must strive to earn comfort and abundance, things well beyond what is needed. And yet, we’re told we should not want. Quite contradictory, don’t you think?”
This can be used to justify his despotic reign and blood lust, but also has some truth too it. Who should decide what is needful? Should the well-off decide that the poor, and those on benefits do not need a television (cheapest type of entertainment), or a computer (access to the internet and world), or books???
I am fascinated to discover what will be in the last two books. What will happen if the King gets the sceptre? What does the prophecy actually mean? Will it come true? What will happen to Bianca, Nyro, Timotei and Talyssa? What about the King and Queen, the rest of their courts? Will any part of their humanity exist at the end? I can hardly wait to find out.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
December 2, 2023
3.85⭐️
December 30, 2019
“You punish yourself so thoroughly, it makes my job easy. It’s hard to believe that after so many years, centuries, I can still be surprised. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever had in my Board, Stonehelm. You are a Knight, twice fed of my blood, and yet, you retain so much of your morality. - Maximus
While searching the White Palace for the sceptre, Nyro was spotted by White Knight Ferko. To save him, Bianca intervened and not only killed Ferko, but had Loretta help Nyro escape through the Palace tunnels. Unfortunately Nyro’s absence from the Black Palace did not go unnoticed by Bishop Dragoslav, who suspecting him of trying to usurp her brother’s throne, promptly throws him in the pit.
After three agonising days, Nyro is released by Dragoslav but warned to keep quiet about his time in the pit from King Maximus, lest Timotei feel the brunt of her wrath. Meanwhile Queen Lovinia has notified Maximus by letter regarding the whereabouts of the body of Black Knight Triaian. Nyro confesses to being in the White Palace and tells Maximus about Traian’s affair with Ferko. Maximus shrugs off the death of Traian and uses his prerogative to promote an unwilling Nyro to Knight.
As a consequence of having fed from Maximus on two separate occasions, Nyro finds it difficult to resist the lure of Talyssa and Timotei’s Trove blood.
Maximus is initially pleased by Nyro’s success in gaining access to the White Palace but grows increasingly impatient with his lack of progress. With Dragoslav thwarting his every move by continuously throwing him in the pit, Nyro comes to realise that not only does she know about his deal with Maximus to steal the sceptre, but that she has made it her mission to ensure that he fails. The question is why?
Black Bishop is the eighth instalment of the compelling Vampire Court series. In comparison to White Bishop, less progress was made plot wise and more emphasis was given to Nyro’s struggle in the Black Palace. While Bianca seeks to go higher up the Board as quickly as possible before the Queen’s blood costs her her humanity, in contrast Nyro resists every step of the way. Maximus forces him to drink his blood after using his prerogative to appoint him Knight. Unfortunately the cost of feeding from Maximus is taking its toll on Nyro who desperately wants to escape with Timotei before its too late.
Bishop Dragoslav proves to be a particularly nasty piece of work in this instalment. Her motives are a mystery as is Maximus’ reasons for wanting to get his hands on the Queen’s sceptre. Maximus remains the most complex character of all and continues to intrigue me. I feel that he and Nyro are more alike than Nyro realises. Sometimes it’s almost as though he is unhappy with what he has become? I hope we are finally given answers into his background in the next instalment.
After eight books, this series continues to keep maintain its hold and following the massive cliffhanger at the end, its going to be an excruciating wait for the next instalment. Highly recommended!
While searching the White Palace for the sceptre, Nyro was spotted by White Knight Ferko. To save him, Bianca intervened and not only killed Ferko, but had Loretta help Nyro escape through the Palace tunnels. Unfortunately Nyro’s absence from the Black Palace did not go unnoticed by Bishop Dragoslav, who suspecting him of trying to usurp her brother’s throne, promptly throws him in the pit.
After three agonising days, Nyro is released by Dragoslav but warned to keep quiet about his time in the pit from King Maximus, lest Timotei feel the brunt of her wrath. Meanwhile Queen Lovinia has notified Maximus by letter regarding the whereabouts of the body of Black Knight Triaian. Nyro confesses to being in the White Palace and tells Maximus about Traian’s affair with Ferko. Maximus shrugs off the death of Traian and uses his prerogative to promote an unwilling Nyro to Knight.
As a consequence of having fed from Maximus on two separate occasions, Nyro finds it difficult to resist the lure of Talyssa and Timotei’s Trove blood.
Maximus is initially pleased by Nyro’s success in gaining access to the White Palace but grows increasingly impatient with his lack of progress. With Dragoslav thwarting his every move by continuously throwing him in the pit, Nyro comes to realise that not only does she know about his deal with Maximus to steal the sceptre, but that she has made it her mission to ensure that he fails. The question is why?
Black Bishop is the eighth instalment of the compelling Vampire Court series. In comparison to White Bishop, less progress was made plot wise and more emphasis was given to Nyro’s struggle in the Black Palace. While Bianca seeks to go higher up the Board as quickly as possible before the Queen’s blood costs her her humanity, in contrast Nyro resists every step of the way. Maximus forces him to drink his blood after using his prerogative to appoint him Knight. Unfortunately the cost of feeding from Maximus is taking its toll on Nyro who desperately wants to escape with Timotei before its too late.
Bishop Dragoslav proves to be a particularly nasty piece of work in this instalment. Her motives are a mystery as is Maximus’ reasons for wanting to get his hands on the Queen’s sceptre. Maximus remains the most complex character of all and continues to intrigue me. I feel that he and Nyro are more alike than Nyro realises. Sometimes it’s almost as though he is unhappy with what he has become? I hope we are finally given answers into his background in the next instalment.
After eight books, this series continues to keep maintain its hold and following the massive cliffhanger at the end, its going to be an excruciating wait for the next instalment. Highly recommended!
January 20, 2020
We find Nyro betraying his loved ones, being beaten & punished by another player on the board and having to lie to his King. Will all this be an end to the rules of playing, his reasons for wanting to make change disappear while he has to let go all of those he loves, or is it all just a way of history trying to repeat itself by manoeuvring the pieces to play the game all over again. Unbeknown to each other him and Bianca have mirrored each other’s moves consistently throughout this journey but will the final pieces fall into place, can Bishop’s who have held their places for hundreds of years be changed? Is it the last stop for his humanity. This is such an addictive series and I wait with anticipation to see if the future he wanted has gone forever or will he just hand his humanity over not believing he has anything left to fight for. Ingrid Seymour has always managed to catch my imagination and transport me to the worlds she builds and moulds in her minds eye 👁 and I can honestly say I don’t want to ever stop joining her as my reality is given a brilliant break from my own.
August 5, 2020
Nyro's life seems to be falling apart. The trust between him and Bianca is breaking not too long after her confession of love, his brother hates him after an accidental strike of blood lust, Talyssa is aware of him too, king Maximus is using him as his puppet with his patience wearing thin, and Bishop Dragoslav is making his life a living hell. Would any man find enough strength to keep his sanity in such circumstances?
The entwined, parallel stories of Bianca and Nyro provide great pleasure and reading experience, switching from one's life to another's, watching some scenes from different POV, seeing and feeling the sensations and emotions the characters do. My heart is always aching for Nyro, for the impossible situation he is put in, and admiring him for being able to push forward, to turn the tables on the hate and contempt around him, and climb the ranks of the black court, even though unwillingly. I hope to see him happy for all the suffering he's been put through.
The entwined, parallel stories of Bianca and Nyro provide great pleasure and reading experience, switching from one's life to another's, watching some scenes from different POV, seeing and feeling the sensations and emotions the characters do. My heart is always aching for Nyro, for the impossible situation he is put in, and admiring him for being able to push forward, to turn the tables on the hate and contempt around him, and climb the ranks of the black court, even though unwillingly. I hope to see him happy for all the suffering he's been put through.
January 22, 2020
Oh Nyro... Black Bishop mirrors the story of White Bishop bit from Nyro’s point of view. After fleeing from the White Castle, Nyro becomes a Knight - replacing Traian, who was killed. But he has now made an enemy of Bishop Dragoslav who believes he is trying to overthrow King Maximus. Nyro’s time is completely taken up by dealing with Dragoslav and trying to complete the king’s mission and fortune does not favour him. I just want the story to work out for him somehow! The Vampire Court series is very addicting, and Black Bishop is fast paced, action packed, and is slowly filling us in on secrets and court intrigue. I definitely recommend this series!
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 16, 2020
I love this series and this latest book is just as good as the previous ones. It picks up right after the Black Knight and we get to see what happened to Nyro after he leaves Bianca to face the music. I have to say Nyro had some crazy weeks. I really felt for Nyro this time around more then Bianco in this shared story set. And the ending set up what is to come really well and makes me crave the next set. Plus the evil King and his crazy bishop shows back up again too. Just a well written and addicting story that made me have to read it in one sitting to see how it would begin and end and what craziness or crazy person might show up this time.
December 27, 2019
I’m totally loving Ingrid Seymour’s Vampire Court series. I’ve been reading these tales in pairs, from White and Black Pawn on up and have now reached White Bishop (Book 7) and Black Bishop (Books 8). What can I say, other than this is fantastic stuff. It’s a twisted path Bianca must follow to get her revenge against the Black King, while her life is increasingly intertwined with Nyro who faces his own intrigue filled uphill battle. As for we readers, we get pure reading bliss in another set of perfectly plotted and superbly written stories that I am most happy to highly recommend.
April 20, 2020
Poor Nyro. Caught between a rock and a hard place. He tries to do the king’s bidding but is thwarted at every turn by Bishop Dragoslav, who is the King’s sister. It seems as if he is spending more time in the pit put there by Dragoslav rather than in actually doing the king’s bidding. Ms Seymour deftly winds this tale around and has us biting our nails anticipating how Nyro will ever get out of his conundrum. And onward I go to read the next book in this series.
December 31, 2019
This series is phenomenal. I love the dual POVs and the way the story is told in pairs of books. The plot becomes even more twisted and darker in this episode, I'm already on tenterhooks trying to guess how Bianca and Nyro are going to find their way out of it all. Completely intrigued by the phrophesy. I can't wait for more!
January 1, 2020
Oh, my gosh, nothing going Nyro's way. What is he going to do? Why is the Kings sister doing this? Can he get out from under her thumb? Can he protect his brother or will he destroy him? Can Bianca ever forgive him and love him? Will he survive this? I received a free copy for my honest review.
December 1, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book! It was very fast paced! I’m curious as to what the black bishop wants with Nyro. Why is she so against him fulfilling his goal? Especially when she’s the black king’s sister!
December 31, 2020
This series is sooo addictive!! I’m dying to know how it will turn out!!!
January 6, 2025
Bishop Dragoslav!
I hate the distrust between Bianca and Nyro... 😫Is there a happy ending? Are they going to defect this charade?
I hate the distrust between Bianca and Nyro... 😫Is there a happy ending? Are they going to defect this charade?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
My heart goes out to Nyro in this installment of the Vampire Court. It seems that every step he takes leads to some sort of adversity, whether it’s being thrown into the pit several times or losing control of his vampire nature with the worst possible victim. And things get even more challenging when Bianca begins to doubt him. Will Nyro be able to face all of the endless turmoil??
June 27, 2024
Loved it
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews