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The Black Jewels #10
Pakt Królowej: Czarne kamienie Tom 10
POWER HAS A PRICE. SO DOES LOVE.
Return to the dark, sensual, and powerful world of the Black Jewels in this long-awaited new story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga.
After a youthful mistake, Lord Dillon's reputation is in tatters, leaving him vulnerable to aristo girls looking for a bit of fun. To restore his reputation and honor, he needs a handfast--a one-year contract of marriage. He sets his sights on Jillian, a young Eyrien witch from Ebon Rih, who he believes has only a flimsy connection to the noble society that spurned him. Unfortunately for Dillon, he is unaware of Jillian's true connections until he finds himself facing Lucivar Yaslana, the volatile Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih.
Meanwhile, Surreal SaDiablo's marriage is crumbling. Daemon Sadi, the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, recognizes there is something wrong between him and Surreal, but he doesn't realize that his attempt to suppress his own nature in order to spare his wife is causing his mind to splinter. To save Daemon, and the Realm of Kaeleer if he breaks, help must be sought from someone who no longer exists in any of the Realms--the only Queen powerful enough to control Daemon Sadi. The Queen known as Witch.
As Jillian rides the winds of first love with Dillon, Daemon and Surreal struggle to survive the wounds of a marriage turned stormy--and Lucivar has to find a way to keep everyone in his family safe...even from each other.
Return to the dark, sensual, and powerful world of the Black Jewels in this long-awaited new story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga.
After a youthful mistake, Lord Dillon's reputation is in tatters, leaving him vulnerable to aristo girls looking for a bit of fun. To restore his reputation and honor, he needs a handfast--a one-year contract of marriage. He sets his sights on Jillian, a young Eyrien witch from Ebon Rih, who he believes has only a flimsy connection to the noble society that spurned him. Unfortunately for Dillon, he is unaware of Jillian's true connections until he finds himself facing Lucivar Yaslana, the volatile Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih.
Meanwhile, Surreal SaDiablo's marriage is crumbling. Daemon Sadi, the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, recognizes there is something wrong between him and Surreal, but he doesn't realize that his attempt to suppress his own nature in order to spare his wife is causing his mind to splinter. To save Daemon, and the Realm of Kaeleer if he breaks, help must be sought from someone who no longer exists in any of the Realms--the only Queen powerful enough to control Daemon Sadi. The Queen known as Witch.
As Jillian rides the winds of first love with Dillon, Daemon and Surreal struggle to survive the wounds of a marriage turned stormy--and Lucivar has to find a way to keep everyone in his family safe...even from each other.
520 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2020
437 people are currently reading
7643 people want to read
About the author
Anne Bishop
51 books10.6k followersAnne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of over twenty novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. She has written a new series, the Others, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.
Crawford Award (2000)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Crawford Award (2000)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
March 20, 2020
5 I-can't-believe-we-finally-got-to-go-back-to-this-world stars!
The Black Jewels is my favorite world, favorite series. This new entry was all that it promised to be and more—so worth the wait.
Good installment?: ★★★★★
Readability (for new readers): ★★★★
Enjoyment: my heart hurts in the best way. perfect.
The Queen's Bargain is being touted as a great entry point for new readers to join the Black Jewels universe without reading all of the backlist titles. I feel like I'm too close to the subject matter to reflect on that without some bias, but honestly, I think I agree. The author has done a fantastic job at conveying the key points of the world for a new audience, and yet continuing on with some of the old faces and old places for those of us who are up to speed.
If you're a newbie reader to this series, don't hesitate—give this a try!
I don't know what to say about this one, folks...read the blurb? It gives a lot of information. And then just jump in. It's perfect, Anne Bishop's writing is a treasure, and the characters are the literal best.
After being so worried to read this—the last installment marked a pretty decisive end to certain things—I'm happy to report that this one stays true to the series while exploring new themes with grace. It's so, so good. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I totally lost my mind when I got to the end and ran out of words to read.
Also, don't worry, there won't be a hiatus before the next one—The Queen's Weapons is already slated to be published in 2021. (YES!)
Thank you to ACE and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
The Black Jewels is my favorite world, favorite series. This new entry was all that it promised to be and more—so worth the wait.
Good installment?: ★★★★★
Readability (for new readers): ★★★★
Enjoyment: my heart hurts in the best way. perfect.
The Queen's Bargain is being touted as a great entry point for new readers to join the Black Jewels universe without reading all of the backlist titles. I feel like I'm too close to the subject matter to reflect on that without some bias, but honestly, I think I agree. The author has done a fantastic job at conveying the key points of the world for a new audience, and yet continuing on with some of the old faces and old places for those of us who are up to speed.
If you're a newbie reader to this series, don't hesitate—give this a try!
I don't know what to say about this one, folks...read the blurb? It gives a lot of information. And then just jump in. It's perfect, Anne Bishop's writing is a treasure, and the characters are the literal best.
After being so worried to read this—the last installment marked a pretty decisive end to certain things—I'm happy to report that this one stays true to the series while exploring new themes with grace. It's so, so good. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I totally lost my mind when I got to the end and ran out of words to read.
Also, don't worry, there won't be a hiatus before the next one—The Queen's Weapons is already slated to be published in 2021. (YES!)
Thank you to ACE and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
March 25, 2020
Q: Being special is its own kind of burden. (c)
Q: No one wanted to sit at a table with a moral lesson. (c)
This messed-up world is just as delightfully cringeworthy as usual. Sexism (mostly reverse) taken to absurdest degrees and made into a farse. 'Warlord Princes' with all that bullshit cleaning baby poop. Lovely!
Hilarious thingys:
Q:
Sweet Darkness, he was potent! (c) Ouch)
Q:
Her pregnancy had been unplanned and unexpected—the result of them comforting each other on the night his father died. (c) Seriously.
Q:
Whether they had sex, made love, or just cuddled a bit before going to sleep, he spent most of his nights in her bed. Her bed, her rules—and he the lover who had the privilege of pleasing her. (c)
Q:
A man who damaged his honor and respectability by having sex outside the marriage bed would never receive that trust anywhere but in the meanest kind of court, where trust and honor could be bought and sold.
But most young men from good families received some formal sex instruction, since learning to be a good lover was considered essential for any man who wanted to serve as a consort in a Queen’s court or wanted to please a wife. The men sat through frank discussions and some demonstrations of how to please a lover. That instruction was usually followed by one or two lessons with a woman who was qualified to train young men in the skills required in and out of bed. (c)
Q:
When he still balked about having sex—after all, it wasn’t her reputation that would be harmed if anyone found out—she asked him to handfast with her, to be her husband for a year. (c)
Some more fun stuff:
Q:
... there weren’t that many styles that suited a winged race. (c)
Q:
“And they all lived happily ever after.”
٭Because they had steak,٭... “And cake.” (c)
Q:
Jaenelle Angelline, the living myth, dreams made flesh. Witch. His Queen. (c)
Q:
“... Mrs. Beale came to my study to discuss it.”
“Did Mrs. Beale bring her meat cleaver?”
“Of course she did.” (c)
Q:
And no one would wonder why he wore loneliness like a heavy cloak. (c)
Q:
Then she felt herself fall into rivers and night skies and cold winter winds. Falling, falling, falling. Couldn’t get her wings to open, couldn’t stop the plunge. (c)
Q:
Our most productive chats always start with me threatening to pin his balls to the wall. Doesn’t change his opinion about anything. It just makes sure I have his full attention. (c)
Q:
When he gets home, point a crossbow at him. It will make him feel loved. (c)
Q:
“I wouldn’t have thought you and your brother would be so squeamish.”
“We’re not squeamish. We just don’t like having our food run away after it’s on the plate.” (c)
Q: No one wanted to sit at a table with a moral lesson. (c)
This messed-up world is just as delightfully cringeworthy as usual. Sexism (mostly reverse) taken to absurdest degrees and made into a farse. 'Warlord Princes' with all that bullshit cleaning baby poop. Lovely!
Hilarious thingys:
Q:
Sweet Darkness, he was potent! (c) Ouch)
Q:
Her pregnancy had been unplanned and unexpected—the result of them comforting each other on the night his father died. (c) Seriously.
Q:
Whether they had sex, made love, or just cuddled a bit before going to sleep, he spent most of his nights in her bed. Her bed, her rules—and he the lover who had the privilege of pleasing her. (c)
Q:
A man who damaged his honor and respectability by having sex outside the marriage bed would never receive that trust anywhere but in the meanest kind of court, where trust and honor could be bought and sold.
But most young men from good families received some formal sex instruction, since learning to be a good lover was considered essential for any man who wanted to serve as a consort in a Queen’s court or wanted to please a wife. The men sat through frank discussions and some demonstrations of how to please a lover. That instruction was usually followed by one or two lessons with a woman who was qualified to train young men in the skills required in and out of bed. (c)
Q:
When he still balked about having sex—after all, it wasn’t her reputation that would be harmed if anyone found out—she asked him to handfast with her, to be her husband for a year. (c)
Some more fun stuff:
Q:
... there weren’t that many styles that suited a winged race. (c)
Q:
“And they all lived happily ever after.”
٭Because they had steak,٭... “And cake.” (c)
Q:
Jaenelle Angelline, the living myth, dreams made flesh. Witch. His Queen. (c)
Q:
“... Mrs. Beale came to my study to discuss it.”
“Did Mrs. Beale bring her meat cleaver?”
“Of course she did.” (c)
Q:
And no one would wonder why he wore loneliness like a heavy cloak. (c)
Q:
Then she felt herself fall into rivers and night skies and cold winter winds. Falling, falling, falling. Couldn’t get her wings to open, couldn’t stop the plunge. (c)
Q:
Our most productive chats always start with me threatening to pin his balls to the wall. Doesn’t change his opinion about anything. It just makes sure I have his full attention. (c)
Q:
When he gets home, point a crossbow at him. It will make him feel loved. (c)
Q:
“I wouldn’t have thought you and your brother would be so squeamish.”
“We’re not squeamish. We just don’t like having our food run away after it’s on the plate.” (c)
March 12, 2020
I regret reading this
I adore the Black Jewels books and have reread the series many times. I had the release date for this book saved in my calendar and bought it the day it came out. Sadly, I wish she had never written it.
It makes no sense to me. The Surreal from the previous books is not present in this one. Whether you liked her character or not, you had to admit she was a strong woman who would take care of her loved ones and would fight to protect them. (I always liked her)
In this book, Surreal has been stripped of all her character and history and complexity, and reduced to some empty character that uses the old Surreals catch phrases like “sugar” but has nothing else in common with her
* almost spoilers but no specifics follow
Surreal basically acts like a selfish aristo lady, the same kind she “protected” Sadi from all those years. She is not a partner or a loving spouse. She does not communicate. She vacillates between lust and fear and demanding sex but treating him without any tenderness or affection. She demands to be “serviced” regardless of his physical or mental condition. She accuses him and ignores his symptoms and pain, and refuses to communicate. Daemon is literally physically and mentally mutilating himself to try and be what she wants.
If Anne Bishop woke up one day and thought “I’ve decided I hate Surreal because she married Daemon after Jaenelle died, so I’m going to write a book to make everyone else hate her too” this is that book
The saddest part is this doesn’t just ruin this book, it ruins every book Surreal is in. How do I go back and enjoy my favorite books again knowing this is the character Surreal becomes? It taints everything.
I adore the Black Jewels books and have reread the series many times. I had the release date for this book saved in my calendar and bought it the day it came out. Sadly, I wish she had never written it.
It makes no sense to me. The Surreal from the previous books is not present in this one. Whether you liked her character or not, you had to admit she was a strong woman who would take care of her loved ones and would fight to protect them. (I always liked her)
In this book, Surreal has been stripped of all her character and history and complexity, and reduced to some empty character that uses the old Surreals catch phrases like “sugar” but has nothing else in common with her
* almost spoilers but no specifics follow
Surreal basically acts like a selfish aristo lady, the same kind she “protected” Sadi from all those years. She is not a partner or a loving spouse. She does not communicate. She vacillates between lust and fear and demanding sex but treating him without any tenderness or affection. She demands to be “serviced” regardless of his physical or mental condition. She accuses him and ignores his symptoms and pain, and refuses to communicate. Daemon is literally physically and mentally mutilating himself to try and be what she wants.
If Anne Bishop woke up one day and thought “I’ve decided I hate Surreal because she married Daemon after Jaenelle died, so I’m going to write a book to make everyone else hate her too” this is that book
The saddest part is this doesn’t just ruin this book, it ruins every book Surreal is in. How do I go back and enjoy my favorite books again knowing this is the character Surreal becomes? It taints everything.
March 11, 2020
It was a delight to be back in this world!
The Queen's Bargain was great and it left the door wide open for many more things to come.
Jillian is not a child anymore but she's also not old enough. She starts to wonder about her womanhood and soon Lucivar realizes it. He’s not happy she’s growing up but he’s more worried about Marion not been able to recuperate her strength after the birthing of their last child. He’s worried he’s losing her.
Daemon is having trouble containing his daughter, Jaenelle Saetien's new behavior. She feels special after receiving her birthstone. She misbehaves and loses the trust of Khary who attaches herself to Daemon instead.
Daemon is also having problems with Surreal and he can’t seem to contain his “heat”. The marriage is on the rocks and both of them are keeping the other in the dark about their feelings.
So many things happened in this story. All in one cohesive web. There were a really great couple of surprises. So many good scenes between both brothers too. It was fun seeing them act together as a team.
Surreal was a surprise though. She’s usually ready for battle but more than half of the book, I was ready to scream at her and set her straight. Thankfully in, the last part of the book, she was more herself.
I devoured the Queen's Bargain in one sitting and I was sad to see it ending.
With so many new developments, I'm anticipating we're going to get more books in The Black Jewels series.
And now I hope you enjoy it too. Kiss Kiss
Cliffhanger no
4/5 fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
March 13, 2020
I’m so excited to return to this world!
October 9, 2021
before:
Do i want anything to do with Daemon x Surreal? Hell no!
Do i want to see that marriage torn to pieces and never mentioned again? *evil laugh* Yeah!
But what's more important, i need new story in my fav world like, yesterday
after:
3.8/4
So... I have some mixed feelings.
On one hand, when i said/wrote "I want to see" i didn't mean i want to experience all the nsfw scenes between Daemon and Surreal. What's worse, it wasn't just notp!smut, it felt like... dubious content. D. is ill - mentally and then physically - and S. doesn't notice at all. All she cares about is sex. If the tables were turned, no matter the BJ matriarchy, i bet all readers would hate on that person. But when that's a woman, when that's Saint Surreal SaDiablo who uses her supposedly-beloved husband, it's FINE. Or: oh no, the Evul Author made her act OOC!!11!! Yeah, all that stuff - that made me both sick and furious while reading it - feels actually in character for a grown up version of the same stupid cruel girl who got drunk(?) and called out Sadi(st) and demanded from him a demonstration... (i might not remember that part perfectly, but overall i know what matters)
Anyway.
I couldn't have liked Surreal in original trilogy no matter how i tried, same with later books, and Twilight's Dawn made me really really dislike her but now? Now I treat her as a main villain of "The Queen's Bargain". You can't change my mind.
And despite some much needed healing that our darling stupid boy finally got, he's still trapped.
(also, there is some foreshadowing for JS becoming a lil bitch...)
Now, the original trilogy (may it be blessed forever) always had it heart+mind+soul-hurting moments, so i'll move on to what i liked!
There was more of the Witch than i expected after skimming the English version (yeah, i've waited for Polish one, but i still got it as soon as i could, taking a leap of faith...) and it feels absolutely right. Those 80-100 years that Jaenelle Angelline got do not mean that the dream made flesh is only a flesh. There is more than body (and sex *cough* hear that Surreal?? *cough*) to everyone, and that includes her.
Daemonar is almost all grown-up, my precious lil beast! He did not disappoint, being both adorable and Warlord-Prince-frustrating. I'm very very excited what's going to happen with him in next books. I low-key ship him with Jillian, soo... ;)
Jaenelle Saetien is kinda disappointing. (I'll blame her mother) It was nice to see Daemon as a father... but at what cost? Honestly, not everyone need to have children. Or second wifes. You know. (Team Black Widower Daemon, assemble! :D)
Daemon. Poor Daemon... I kinda wish Jaenelle went on some reincarnation road ;) so that he could still have someone who - okay, maybe except Lucivar - sees him for who he is and not only accepts him, but loves him truly. Daemon deserves the world, Daemon deserves the best. At least he's not completely alone.
I really enjoed Jillian's storyline... Probably all storylines except Surreal. I'm so done with her.
Dillon makes an interesting character.
Now, both Jillian and Daemon made it clear - Sceltie are better than any romance.
Marian's storyline got me scared for a while! I really like her, and i want her to be all fine.
Black Jewels, no matter how many times i read them, always surprise me - i was so sure Lucivar was already The Big Deal of Askavi!
Speaking of Lucivar, isn't he like fine wine, even better with age. Both as a father figure of Jillian *sniffs* and Daemon's brother *sniffs some more and fight tears in her eyes*, he continues to give me all the fluffy feelings.
Some of our beloved characters are dead and gone... But some are still here. I loved familiar ppl showing up here and there, and it somewhat soothes the fact that not everyone are present.
Kiss Kiss
Do i want anything to do with Daemon x Surreal? Hell no!
Do i want to see that marriage torn to pieces and never mentioned again? *evil laugh* Yeah!
But what's more important, i need new story in my fav world like, yesterday
after:
3.8/4
So... I have some mixed feelings.
On one hand, when i said/wrote "I want to see" i didn't mean i want to experience all the nsfw scenes between Daemon and Surreal. What's worse, it wasn't just notp!smut, it felt like... dubious content. D. is ill - mentally and then physically - and S. doesn't notice at all. All she cares about is sex. If the tables were turned, no matter the BJ matriarchy, i bet all readers would hate on that person. But when that's a woman, when that's Saint Surreal SaDiablo who uses her supposedly-beloved husband, it's FINE. Or: oh no, the Evul Author made her act OOC!!11!! Yeah, all that stuff - that made me both sick and furious while reading it - feels actually in character for a grown up version of the same stupid cruel girl who got drunk(?) and called out Sadi(st) and demanded from him a demonstration... (i might not remember that part perfectly, but overall i know what matters)
Anyway.
I couldn't have liked Surreal in original trilogy no matter how i tried, same with later books, and Twilight's Dawn made me really really dislike her but now? Now I treat her as a main villain of "The Queen's Bargain". You can't change my mind.
And despite some much needed healing that our darling stupid boy finally got, he's still trapped.
(also, there is some foreshadowing for JS becoming a lil bitch...)
Now, the original trilogy (may it be blessed forever) always had it heart+mind+soul-hurting moments, so i'll move on to what i liked!
There was more of the Witch than i expected after skimming the English version (yeah, i've waited for Polish one, but i still got it as soon as i could, taking a leap of faith...) and it feels absolutely right. Those 80-100 years that Jaenelle Angelline got do not mean that the dream made flesh is only a flesh. There is more than body (and sex *cough* hear that Surreal?? *cough*) to everyone, and that includes her.
Daemonar is almost all grown-up, my precious lil beast! He did not disappoint, being both adorable and Warlord-Prince-frustrating. I'm very very excited what's going to happen with him in next books. I low-key ship him with Jillian, soo... ;)
Jaenelle Saetien is kinda disappointing. (I'll blame her mother) It was nice to see Daemon as a father... but at what cost? Honestly, not everyone need to have children. Or second wifes. You know. (Team Black Widower Daemon, assemble! :D)
Daemon. Poor Daemon... I kinda wish Jaenelle went on some reincarnation road ;) so that he could still have someone who - okay, maybe except Lucivar - sees him for who he is and not only accepts him, but loves him truly. Daemon deserves the world, Daemon deserves the best. At least he's not completely alone.
I really enjoed Jillian's storyline... Probably all storylines except Surreal. I'm so done with her.
Dillon makes an interesting character.
Now, both Jillian and Daemon made it clear - Sceltie are better than any romance.
Marian's storyline got me scared for a while! I really like her, and i want her to be all fine.
Black Jewels, no matter how many times i read them, always surprise me - i was so sure Lucivar was already The Big Deal of Askavi!
Speaking of Lucivar, isn't he like fine wine, even better with age. Both as a father figure of Jillian *sniffs* and Daemon's brother *sniffs some more and fight tears in her eyes*, he continues to give me all the fluffy feelings.
Some of our beloved characters are dead and gone... But some are still here. I loved familiar ppl showing up here and there, and it somewhat soothes the fact that not everyone are present.
Kiss Kiss
March 26, 2020
***Spoiler Warning***
So, this is my first time writing a review. I don't know why I decided to start with this one. Probably because I feel so conflicted about this book I was hoping some people felt the same way I did if they were being honest. And thankfully, yes, some do.
Let me say this, I have read every Black Jewels book and am I big fan. I have been waiting for this book for a long time, like the rest of you. A friend gave me these books at the start of a massive depression and I drew a lot of strength from the characters. Especially Surreal. The thing I always asked my friend was if Surreal got her happily ever after, and with who.
I am probably in the minority, but I liked Twilight's Dawn. I liked that Surreal and Daemon ended up together. She was the one women who didn't put up with shit. Even though she was afraid of the Sadist at times, she didn't back down and he needed that. They both did.
Am I going to rant a bit, so here we go:
But this book.... arg. What the hell happened to her? Even after reading this book I don't hate her. I can't even say I lost respect for. I just don't understand why the author chose to degrade her like this. To reduce such a strong and capable women to a scared little girl drove me nuts. Something that was barely mentioned is how hard it was to be the second wife, and it was only mentioned passing in this book by Jaenelle. It is not easy to live in the shadow of Daemon's first great love. Considering that he didn't even tell her the he loved her until a few days maybe a few weeks before "the incident", I'm not surprised that she acted the way she did (after her brush with the Sadist back in Terrielle, she didn't talk to him for 50 years though). I am surprised the she didn't say anything after it. The old Surreal new better and would have called him on this. Daemon with Jaenelle knew better and with Surreal he knew better then to keep his mouth shut. What upsets me most is that now she will alway question his intentions with her. Whether he comes to her bed because he wants to or because he sees it as his duty. I get why he doesn't fully trust her now because of how this played out, I do, and I can't say that I blame either of them for it. But I also think that was part of the problem. He expected total acceptance from someone he didn't fully accept. He had said it a few times that he wasn't the best husband to her. That he enjoyed taking care of her body and gave her courtesy and respect that protocol required, but he never really showed that he truly loved her until after the Birthright Ceremony. Don't jump down my throat, I'm well aware that he needed her to heal and that he felt like he needed his Queen's permission to finally voice it. But you can't expect total acceptance and love and trust from someone when for decades you didn't show it to them, when all you did was tolerate them out of duty and they knew it. She loved him and made no secret about that, but she didn't know until recently that he loved her. The fact that at the end he could see that others made mistakes and gave them a second chance, but not really her pissed me off. Yes it will take time, but I alway wanted more for them. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I didn't think that they would loose so much of who they were in that book and without any explanation. Hopefully, things will get better for them in the next book. Hope is the only I have left since this book left me flatter than dead.
I still love Lucivar. I like the way things were handled with Jillian and Dillon but the Surreal and Daemon stuff really took away from me enjoying this book and giving it a higher rating.
I hope the next book (apparently it's coming next year) fixes things between them. They both deserve a happily ever after.
Thanks for reading my review. I hope some find it helpful
So, this is my first time writing a review. I don't know why I decided to start with this one. Probably because I feel so conflicted about this book I was hoping some people felt the same way I did if they were being honest. And thankfully, yes, some do.
Let me say this, I have read every Black Jewels book and am I big fan. I have been waiting for this book for a long time, like the rest of you. A friend gave me these books at the start of a massive depression and I drew a lot of strength from the characters. Especially Surreal. The thing I always asked my friend was if Surreal got her happily ever after, and with who.
I am probably in the minority, but I liked Twilight's Dawn. I liked that Surreal and Daemon ended up together. She was the one women who didn't put up with shit. Even though she was afraid of the Sadist at times, she didn't back down and he needed that. They both did.
Am I going to rant a bit, so here we go:
But this book.... arg. What the hell happened to her? Even after reading this book I don't hate her. I can't even say I lost respect for. I just don't understand why the author chose to degrade her like this. To reduce such a strong and capable women to a scared little girl drove me nuts. Something that was barely mentioned is how hard it was to be the second wife, and it was only mentioned passing in this book by Jaenelle. It is not easy to live in the shadow of Daemon's first great love. Considering that he didn't even tell her the he loved her until a few days maybe a few weeks before "the incident", I'm not surprised that she acted the way she did (after her brush with the Sadist back in Terrielle, she didn't talk to him for 50 years though). I am surprised the she didn't say anything after it. The old Surreal new better and would have called him on this. Daemon with Jaenelle knew better and with Surreal he knew better then to keep his mouth shut. What upsets me most is that now she will alway question his intentions with her. Whether he comes to her bed because he wants to or because he sees it as his duty. I get why he doesn't fully trust her now because of how this played out, I do, and I can't say that I blame either of them for it. But I also think that was part of the problem. He expected total acceptance from someone he didn't fully accept. He had said it a few times that he wasn't the best husband to her. That he enjoyed taking care of her body and gave her courtesy and respect that protocol required, but he never really showed that he truly loved her until after the Birthright Ceremony. Don't jump down my throat, I'm well aware that he needed her to heal and that he felt like he needed his Queen's permission to finally voice it. But you can't expect total acceptance and love and trust from someone when for decades you didn't show it to them, when all you did was tolerate them out of duty and they knew it. She loved him and made no secret about that, but she didn't know until recently that he loved her. The fact that at the end he could see that others made mistakes and gave them a second chance, but not really her pissed me off. Yes it will take time, but I alway wanted more for them. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I didn't think that they would loose so much of who they were in that book and without any explanation. Hopefully, things will get better for them in the next book. Hope is the only I have left since this book left me flatter than dead.
I still love Lucivar. I like the way things were handled with Jillian and Dillon but the Surreal and Daemon stuff really took away from me enjoying this book and giving it a higher rating.
I hope the next book (apparently it's coming next year) fixes things between them. They both deserve a happily ever after.
Thanks for reading my review. I hope some find it helpful
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2020
Warning: There will be spoilers for some of the prior books of this series.
This is the tenth book in a series and world I’ve grown to love. I’m having a hard time with a few things though because, well because I loved Daemon and Jaenelle so much. We spent so many books waiting for them to find their way to one another and now that Jaenelle has lived her very human life and moved on it is difficult to see Daemon with another woman even if it is Surreal.
Daemon is the Highlord of Hell, Prince of the Realm, Father to a very precocious little girl and a husband who is having a few marital problems and isn’t sure why. I loved time with Daemon the father and warlord prince. Trying to deal with a child who feels like she is ‘special’ is coming with a few extra challenges. But I’m certain that he is up to them in his own unique parenting way.
Daemon and Surreal. Well for me that marriage is just a trainwreck. For a few reasons, Surreal is just not Jaenelle and doesn’t understand Daemon or his power. She is also afraid of him and not in a constructive way. She isn’t his Queen, that woman is dead now and just a song in the darkness he still hears sometimes and Surreal isn’t doing a good job at being honest with him.
Daemon knows something is different and possibly wrong with him. He feels like he is unravelling and Tersa as always has seen what could happen to her boy.
I did get wrapped up in a lot of this story. I wondered it Daemon would find the help he needed to make sure he stays tied to this realm, I’m sure his daughter is going to need him eventually when she is a little older.
There is still some corruption in the blood it seems and a young Dillon is paying the price, not as heavy a price as some of the other young Lords but a steep price none the less. He has been cast out of his family and as he tries to fix his reputation falls meets Jillian from Yaslana’s household. He might have bit off a little more than he can chew there.
I liked much of this story. There is the same wonderful storytelling that we have had throughout the series and I definitely get drawn into it. There is the saying ‘There is always a price’ and that is true in this series. I loved getting to spend some time with the Scelties again and their herding and friendly ways. I LOVED every page we got with Witch on it, I have missed her.
This book seems like it is setting up for a new storyline and I think that yes you could enter here and be okay, but you would miss out on the brilliant and tragic story that made Daemon and Yaslana the men they are today. I don’t know if the same connection to the characters can happen if you were to enter here. But it seems that a new danger is just on the horizon and Daemon and Yaslana will be ready with the help of some old friends to face it.
This is the tenth book in a series and world I’ve grown to love. I’m having a hard time with a few things though because, well because I loved Daemon and Jaenelle so much. We spent so many books waiting for them to find their way to one another and now that Jaenelle has lived her very human life and moved on it is difficult to see Daemon with another woman even if it is Surreal.
Daemon is the Highlord of Hell, Prince of the Realm, Father to a very precocious little girl and a husband who is having a few marital problems and isn’t sure why. I loved time with Daemon the father and warlord prince. Trying to deal with a child who feels like she is ‘special’ is coming with a few extra challenges. But I’m certain that he is up to them in his own unique parenting way.
But when the foolish girl began slamming doors to indicate her extreme displeasure, he quietly informed her that since words spoken quickly could be misinterpreted, any requests to visit friends or go on outings in the foreseeable future would have to be submitted in writing, using proper spelling, full sentences that provided the necessary information he would need in order to make a decision, and, of course, good penmanship.”
Daemon and Surreal. Well for me that marriage is just a trainwreck. For a few reasons, Surreal is just not Jaenelle and doesn’t understand Daemon or his power. She is also afraid of him and not in a constructive way. She isn’t his Queen, that woman is dead now and just a song in the darkness he still hears sometimes and Surreal isn’t doing a good job at being honest with him.
Daemon knows something is different and possibly wrong with him. He feels like he is unravelling and Tersa as always has seen what could happen to her boy.
If her boy’s pain went away, the one person he would need the most wouldn’t be there. The one the winged boy would need wouldn’t be there.
Daemon’s pain was the only key. Could she let her boy suffer now in order to spare him from greater pain later?
“Everything has a price,” she whispered as she retreated from the visions.
I did get wrapped up in a lot of this story. I wondered it Daemon would find the help he needed to make sure he stays tied to this realm, I’m sure his daughter is going to need him eventually when she is a little older.
There is still some corruption in the blood it seems and a young Dillon is paying the price, not as heavy a price as some of the other young Lords but a steep price none the less. He has been cast out of his family and as he tries to fix his reputation falls meets Jillian from Yaslana’s household. He might have bit off a little more than he can chew there.
I liked much of this story. There is the same wonderful storytelling that we have had throughout the series and I definitely get drawn into it. There is the saying ‘There is always a price’ and that is true in this series. I loved getting to spend some time with the Scelties again and their herding and friendly ways. I LOVED every page we got with Witch on it, I have missed her.
This book seems like it is setting up for a new storyline and I think that yes you could enter here and be okay, but you would miss out on the brilliant and tragic story that made Daemon and Yaslana the men they are today. I don’t know if the same connection to the characters can happen if you were to enter here. But it seems that a new danger is just on the horizon and Daemon and Yaslana will be ready with the help of some old friends to face it.
February 5, 2020
Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.
I have a weird relationship with this series. It is utterly ridiculous, and Anne Bishop is one of the least subtle authors I've ever read, but I will grab every new book from her the second I can and read it immediately. "The Queen's Bargain" is a continuation from the novella at the end of the "Twilight's Dawn" collection, following mostly familiar characters further into their post Jaenelle future. Much of the book deals with Daemon and Surreal's relationship (and various problems that they are having). The other major plotline follows Lucivar's sort of foster daughter Jillian as she makes her first forays into the world of romance.
The Jillian plotline was actually pretty decent. I was a bit worried at first since literally the first thing she does in the book is assess her own appearance in a mirror (a trope which always makes me laugh), but her story didn't quite go in the direction I expected, and was better for it. The thing that bothered me about this book was the Daemon and Surreal story. I've always liked both of these characters, and though I know it was unpopular with some readers, I liked the fact that they ended up together in the previous book. My problem here is that in order to create big problems in their relationship Surreal was turned into a character I didn't really recognize anymore. There was suddenly not much left of the self assured woman who has known Daemon for literally centuries at this point. Without giving away details, her reactions to various things in this book made no sense to me and seemed to waffle between completely clueless and outright abusive. She was acting like an adolescent instead of the character we've been taught to expect. I hope that this will be corrected in future books since I really have always liked her.
As always with Anne Bishop, assume trigger warnings for references to all kinds of sexual violence and abuse (though this book is much lighter on that side of things then some of hers have been). Still, if that sort of stuff is difficult for you to think about then this isn't the series for you. I'm still happy that Anne Bishop is continuing these books, but I hope that in the next volume the characters act more like the people that I remember.
(a little bit of an aside, and more about the series in general, but for a world based so much on sexuality and relationships there is really shockingly little in the Black Jewels stories about non-hetero long term relationships. The couple of characters who are explicitly gay seem to also be basically asexual, spending their entire lives-as far as we know-with platonic life mates and adopted children and never having any sort of same sex romantic relationship. It's a weird omission considering the rest of the series).
I have a weird relationship with this series. It is utterly ridiculous, and Anne Bishop is one of the least subtle authors I've ever read, but I will grab every new book from her the second I can and read it immediately. "The Queen's Bargain" is a continuation from the novella at the end of the "Twilight's Dawn" collection, following mostly familiar characters further into their post Jaenelle future. Much of the book deals with Daemon and Surreal's relationship (and various problems that they are having). The other major plotline follows Lucivar's sort of foster daughter Jillian as she makes her first forays into the world of romance.
The Jillian plotline was actually pretty decent. I was a bit worried at first since literally the first thing she does in the book is assess her own appearance in a mirror (a trope which always makes me laugh), but her story didn't quite go in the direction I expected, and was better for it. The thing that bothered me about this book was the Daemon and Surreal story. I've always liked both of these characters, and though I know it was unpopular with some readers, I liked the fact that they ended up together in the previous book. My problem here is that in order to create big problems in their relationship Surreal was turned into a character I didn't really recognize anymore. There was suddenly not much left of the self assured woman who has known Daemon for literally centuries at this point. Without giving away details, her reactions to various things in this book made no sense to me and seemed to waffle between completely clueless and outright abusive. She was acting like an adolescent instead of the character we've been taught to expect. I hope that this will be corrected in future books since I really have always liked her.
As always with Anne Bishop, assume trigger warnings for references to all kinds of sexual violence and abuse (though this book is much lighter on that side of things then some of hers have been). Still, if that sort of stuff is difficult for you to think about then this isn't the series for you. I'm still happy that Anne Bishop is continuing these books, but I hope that in the next volume the characters act more like the people that I remember.
(a little bit of an aside, and more about the series in general, but for a world based so much on sexuality and relationships there is really shockingly little in the Black Jewels stories about non-hetero long term relationships. The couple of characters who are explicitly gay seem to also be basically asexual, spending their entire lives-as far as we know-with platonic life mates and adopted children and never having any sort of same sex romantic relationship. It's a weird omission considering the rest of the series).
May 1, 2020
I love this series so much. I've missed these characters. Hopefully, we get more of them, quicker, please👍
Want to read
August 14, 2019Please tell me this is going to somehow *undo* the way the story went at the end of Twilight's Dawn... please, please, please
March 14, 2020
Notes:
The core of the story is still true to the series but this book felt like the author took an extreme turn from where the story stopped in #9. The book did not feel like a Black Jewels story. It was like being in an alternate version of the series world and nothing felt right because it was not quite what it should have been.
I still love the main characters and new additions. The actual idea for the plot was okay but the process felt artificial and forced. I'm disappointed because I was expecting to be re-immersed into a world I love and this was not it.
The core of the story is still true to the series but this book felt like the author took an extreme turn from where the story stopped in #9. The book did not feel like a Black Jewels story. It was like being in an alternate version of the series world and nothing felt right because it was not quite what it should have been.
I still love the main characters and new additions. The actual idea for the plot was okay but the process felt artificial and forced. I'm disappointed because I was expecting to be re-immersed into a world I love and this was not it.
April 9, 2025
Book number 532 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
If you have read this far in this series, you know exactly what to expect. Lucivar will bellow a lot and threaten on a regular basis. Daemon Sadi will scare everyone around him frequently. Lucivar's wife Marian will experience physical weakness. Daemon's wife Surreal will want to stab somebody. There will be sexual shenanigans by a younger member of the clan that the adults will have to sort out. Someone will be drinking blood, others will be chugging brandy. (Although not a single brandy snifter was thrown or shattered in this volume. Very disappointing.)
This time around, Lucivar and Marian's ward, Jillian, is the young woman in difficulty. Being an Eyrien, one of the winged race, she matures very slowly, but she is just starting to blossom into womanhood and starting to feel confined by her small community. Ripe for trouble, when another youngster, Dillon, shows up and thinks she is fair game. He has been betrayed and hounded from one community to the next and has become a deft manipulator of young women. He doesn't realize what he has let himself in for!
These books are like cotton candy, light and fluffy, of no nutritional value. However they are fun and quick to read. Once I pick one up, I have a hard time setting it down.
If you have read this far in this series, you know exactly what to expect. Lucivar will bellow a lot and threaten on a regular basis. Daemon Sadi will scare everyone around him frequently. Lucivar's wife Marian will experience physical weakness. Daemon's wife Surreal will want to stab somebody. There will be sexual shenanigans by a younger member of the clan that the adults will have to sort out. Someone will be drinking blood, others will be chugging brandy. (Although not a single brandy snifter was thrown or shattered in this volume. Very disappointing.)
This time around, Lucivar and Marian's ward, Jillian, is the young woman in difficulty. Being an Eyrien, one of the winged race, she matures very slowly, but she is just starting to blossom into womanhood and starting to feel confined by her small community. Ripe for trouble, when another youngster, Dillon, shows up and thinks she is fair game. He has been betrayed and hounded from one community to the next and has become a deft manipulator of young women. He doesn't realize what he has let himself in for!
These books are like cotton candy, light and fluffy, of no nutritional value. However they are fun and quick to read. Once I pick one up, I have a hard time setting it down.
November 12, 2025
I think my opinion is in the minority that I rather liked how Twilight's Dawn finished the series, I felt everything was tied up in a nice little bow and I could move on. I cannot stand the hate that I read in the reviews that Daemon/Surreal gets. I LOVE them together, it was a natural way for Daemon to move on from the love of his life. Yes, he will never love Surreal liked he loved Jaenelle but there was affection trust and yes a different love. And yes I am being slightly bias because I ADORE Surreal. I think she the strongest and most badass character in the whole of this universe... And while I can agree that for the first half of the book she was slightly off... But it made a mad sort of since. Shes a character that had lived through trauma that comes from helplessness... She was raped as a child... Abandoned (by her mother being killed, Daemon being unable to watch out for the orphan...) by everyone who knew her and could protect her... Forced by circumstance to become a whore... This all before adolescences. Yes she was uncharacteristically cowardly but I understood WHY. She was feeling helpless... Something that could bring the strongest woman in the whole series to her knees... What Im angry about it that NO ONE seemed to think... "Oh somethings wrong with Daemon lets ask his wife and when she lies maybe we should point a crossbow at her until she talks..." COMMON! Everyone saw there was a problem and said they would do something and no one did ANYTHING!!!!
I'll be honest, I was upset by this continuation, I did not want more, I was content to let my own imagination carry the story on... But now that it is here I am sad, sad that once more the one character I truly cared about is between a rock and hard place... And I donno if im going to be reading the rest of them at least not as they come out. I'll see how it goes, but at the moment im really only invested in the Daemon/Surreal relationship, and not anything else... Forget all you hates Im rooting for my girl to FINALLY get the happy ending she deserves.
Edit, after a few years of thinking about this I'm going to be even more scathing, basically Bishope butchered all the growth and development of one of the main character (there are three main characters Deamon, Luciver, and Surreal; Jaenelle is not a main character she is a plot device for driving the plot) of the series just to appease one portion of her fan base, and that is not okay. And Bishope has only seemed to double down on it. Im going to pretend this continuation doesn't exist.
I'll be honest, I was upset by this continuation, I did not want more, I was content to let my own imagination carry the story on... But now that it is here I am sad, sad that once more the one character I truly cared about is between a rock and hard place... And I donno if im going to be reading the rest of them at least not as they come out. I'll see how it goes, but at the moment im really only invested in the Daemon/Surreal relationship, and not anything else... Forget all you hates Im rooting for my girl to FINALLY get the happy ending she deserves.
Edit, after a few years of thinking about this I'm going to be even more scathing, basically Bishope butchered all the growth and development of one of the main character (there are three main characters Deamon, Luciver, and Surreal; Jaenelle is not a main character she is a plot device for driving the plot) of the series just to appease one portion of her fan base, and that is not okay. And Bishope has only seemed to double down on it. Im going to pretend this continuation doesn't exist.
March 22, 2021
I've never finished a Bishop book before and felt this disappointed. I feel like Surreal's character was changed to allow for a specific plot point to occur and that she was used in this book and "The High Lord's Daughter" story simply to give Daemon a daughter to tie him to the living realms. Surreal was seriously wronged and deserved better.
I also felt like the author created the social "norm" of sex before marriage as frowned upon as something to push a plot point since in the previous books, plenty of characters had sex before marriage or sex without marriage or a handfasting and nobody made a fuss over it.
I think the best thing about the story was the Scelties' parts in it.
I also felt like the author created the social "norm" of sex before marriage as frowned upon as something to push a plot point since in the previous books, plenty of characters had sex before marriage or sex without marriage or a handfasting and nobody made a fuss over it.
I think the best thing about the story was the Scelties' parts in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2019
I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. As a huge Black Jewels fan (and a fan of Anne Bishop in general), I absolutely loved this book. I'm going to go back and re-read all of the other books, then read this one again. I love this world and the characters. This book was well worth the wait.
March 16, 2020
This entire series is ridiculous id-appealing teenage melodrama on steroids. Like luridly coloured, super sweet candy. Nothing about it is subtle, and you know, objectively, that there's no real substance contained within, and yet it's still somehow compulsively eatable. Er, readable.
This instalment isn't as OTT as some of the earlier books in the series, but it still delivers a solid dose of sexy magic goth-adjacent domestic melodrama. There's basically no plot beyond the various relationship dramas, but I still found myself staying up till 2 am to finish it.
Catching up with beloved characters was great, though a bittersweet experience because the main character of the earlier books - Saetan - is no longer around, and I missed him like (forgive me) hell.
The only sour note was the Surreal / Daemon relationship. I've never been as big a fan of Daemon as Anne Bishop clearly is (Lucivar is clearly the more interesting of the brothers by a mile), but I've always had a soft spot for Surreal. I can't say I loved Surreal and Daemon ending up together in the previous instalment - particularly after the way Daemon treated her when he found out she was pregnant - but I'd accepted it. The comfortable compromise between them was at least an interesting and somewhat plausible dynamic; they're not in love but they love each other.
But in this book, every scene where they're together she acts really out of character - indecisive, scared, passive. Her arc is that she's 'failing' Daemon by (a) not realising that he's evolving into an Even Sexier Daemon and (b) being scared of losing her free will under the weight of his new-and-improved Big Sex Aura.
(yes, that really is the main plot of the book; those familiar with this series will accept this kind of ridiculousness as Entirely Par For The Course)
The out-of-character behaviour was the most annoying part, though personally, I don't consider Surreal a 'failure' for not being endlessly and perfectly accommodating of the ever-changing uber-powerful weirdness that is Daemon. Just once I'd like for Daemon to have to acknowledge that he's failed her.
However, that rant aside, I still really enjoyed this book. Definitely not a place to start if you haven't read the earlier books, but a fun return to the world for the fans.
This instalment isn't as OTT as some of the earlier books in the series, but it still delivers a solid dose of sexy magic goth-adjacent domestic melodrama. There's basically no plot beyond the various relationship dramas, but I still found myself staying up till 2 am to finish it.
Catching up with beloved characters was great, though a bittersweet experience because the main character of the earlier books - Saetan - is no longer around, and I missed him like (forgive me) hell.
The only sour note was the Surreal / Daemon relationship. I've never been as big a fan of Daemon as Anne Bishop clearly is (Lucivar is clearly the more interesting of the brothers by a mile), but I've always had a soft spot for Surreal. I can't say I loved Surreal and Daemon ending up together in the previous instalment - particularly after the way Daemon treated her when he found out she was pregnant - but I'd accepted it. The comfortable compromise between them was at least an interesting and somewhat plausible dynamic; they're not in love but they love each other.
But in this book, every scene where they're together she acts really out of character - indecisive, scared, passive. Her arc is that she's 'failing' Daemon by (a) not realising that he's evolving into an Even Sexier Daemon and (b) being scared of losing her free will under the weight of his new-and-improved Big Sex Aura.
(yes, that really is the main plot of the book; those familiar with this series will accept this kind of ridiculousness as Entirely Par For The Course)
The out-of-character behaviour was the most annoying part, though personally, I don't consider Surreal a 'failure' for not being endlessly and perfectly accommodating of the ever-changing uber-powerful weirdness that is Daemon. Just once I'd like for Daemon to have to acknowledge that he's failed her.
However, that rant aside, I still really enjoyed this book. Definitely not a place to start if you haven't read the earlier books, but a fun return to the world for the fans.
April 10, 2020
Disappointed
I love the other books in this series, like read them every couple of months. This one was not anywhere close to my favorite.
It took Surreal, a vital, fascinating witch and made her a whiny brat. I mean a Sceltie was given more consideration than she was. If Sadi and Luciver were shaped by their pasts why was hers treated like unimportant. She was treated just as bad and even if she chose to work in the Red Moon houses her choice was for survival just like the men's choices.
I was just not impressed.
I love the other books in this series, like read them every couple of months. This one was not anywhere close to my favorite.
It took Surreal, a vital, fascinating witch and made her a whiny brat. I mean a Sceltie was given more consideration than she was. If Sadi and Luciver were shaped by their pasts why was hers treated like unimportant. She was treated just as bad and even if she chose to work in the Red Moon houses her choice was for survival just like the men's choices.
I was just not impressed.
February 28, 2020
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Return to pick up with Daemon, Surreal, Lucivar, Marion, and the rest of the long-lived court of Witch. If you desperately want to know what happens after Witch leaves the world. Surreal and Daemon are married, and they've had a child together, named after Jaenelle Angelline. Lucivar and Marion have had a few more children, and Lucivar has a daughter of the heart named Jillian. Jillian is on the cusp of womanhood and ends up in some misadventures with a young aristo stranger. The stranger, named Dillon, brings a whisper of Terreille with him - the mistreatment of young men by the young women who have the power in this society. The other plot resolves around Daemon's health and sanity - he's going through a change, a sickness that's causing his relationship with Surreal to fracture.
There were endearing moments of fatherhood that stood out in this novel: Lucivar trying to adjust to Jillian becoming a young woman, and Daemon leading his young daughter back from a spoiled precipice. The addition of the Scelties and some other returning characters added amusement and a bit of hilarity. It felt a bit like dragging on a favorite scarf, for a little bit. I did enjoy this series when I was younger. It also felt a bit hollow. There wasn't much plot to the story, it was mostly a family drama and a repeat of the beginning of the trilogy with the fracturing society in Kaeleer that mimics the previous fracturing society in Terreille. There's no real resolution, but the same old solution is trotted out one last time. It's not really a happy resolution, either.
I think, if you really loved the world and the series and the characters, and you want more of the same, you'll enjoy this continuation of the series. It wasn't what I'd hoped for.
Return to pick up with Daemon, Surreal, Lucivar, Marion, and the rest of the long-lived court of Witch. If you desperately want to know what happens after Witch leaves the world. Surreal and Daemon are married, and they've had a child together, named after Jaenelle Angelline. Lucivar and Marion have had a few more children, and Lucivar has a daughter of the heart named Jillian. Jillian is on the cusp of womanhood and ends up in some misadventures with a young aristo stranger. The stranger, named Dillon, brings a whisper of Terreille with him - the mistreatment of young men by the young women who have the power in this society. The other plot resolves around Daemon's health and sanity - he's going through a change, a sickness that's causing his relationship with Surreal to fracture.
There were endearing moments of fatherhood that stood out in this novel: Lucivar trying to adjust to Jillian becoming a young woman, and Daemon leading his young daughter back from a spoiled precipice. The addition of the Scelties and some other returning characters added amusement and a bit of hilarity. It felt a bit like dragging on a favorite scarf, for a little bit. I did enjoy this series when I was younger. It also felt a bit hollow. There wasn't much plot to the story, it was mostly a family drama and a repeat of the beginning of the trilogy with the fracturing society in Kaeleer that mimics the previous fracturing society in Terreille. There's no real resolution, but the same old solution is trotted out one last time. It's not really a happy resolution, either.
I think, if you really loved the world and the series and the characters, and you want more of the same, you'll enjoy this continuation of the series. It wasn't what I'd hoped for.
March 14, 2020
I honestly wanted to like this. I love the Black Jewels books. In my opinion, this isn't 2 stars, but it's not quite 3 stars either. 2.5 would be more accurate.
The stories in the book do not mesh very well. There is a lot of what feels like ret-conning; creating issues that have never been there before, but suddenly they not only exist but have ALWAYS existed.
This whole book felt like the thought process was something along the lines of "well, I was thinking about writing a story about X, and another one about Y, and then also one about F... but none of them are fleshed out enough to warrant a whole book by themselves... what if we just mash them all together? No one will notice that they don't blend, have nothing to do with each other, and are completely disjointed!"
This would have been a much stronger book, in my opinion, if the stories had been kept separate, written up as short stories, and included in another collection book like Twilight's Dawn or Dreams Made Flesh.
Instead, we have this mishmash with characters acting EXTREMELY out of character, and in general being beyond DUMB.
I love the Black Jewels books. I reread them frequently. I can promise you now, this one will not be included in my rereading cycle.
I'm so incredibly disappointed in this book that I'm almost unhappy that I bought it. For now, I'll include it in the same mental bucket as Aliens 3. I own it to complete a series, but I don't actually like it.
At least it's not in the same bucket as the third X-Men movie... I refuse to own that one and usually pretend it doesn't exist.
The stories in the book do not mesh very well. There is a lot of what feels like ret-conning; creating issues that have never been there before, but suddenly they not only exist but have ALWAYS existed.
This whole book felt like the thought process was something along the lines of "well, I was thinking about writing a story about X, and another one about Y, and then also one about F... but none of them are fleshed out enough to warrant a whole book by themselves... what if we just mash them all together? No one will notice that they don't blend, have nothing to do with each other, and are completely disjointed!"
This would have been a much stronger book, in my opinion, if the stories had been kept separate, written up as short stories, and included in another collection book like Twilight's Dawn or Dreams Made Flesh.
Instead, we have this mishmash with characters acting EXTREMELY out of character, and in general being beyond DUMB.
I love the Black Jewels books. I reread them frequently. I can promise you now, this one will not be included in my rereading cycle.
I'm so incredibly disappointed in this book that I'm almost unhappy that I bought it. For now, I'll include it in the same mental bucket as Aliens 3. I own it to complete a series, but I don't actually like it.
At least it's not in the same bucket as the third X-Men movie... I refuse to own that one and usually pretend it doesn't exist.
March 25, 2020
Fantasy lovers have a big reason to rejoice! I was very excited and almost surprised when Anne Bishop announced that she would be returning to the world of the Black Jewels and would be writing a new book. However, I was excited to see how this return would pan out.
Much like the other books in the series, there are multiple points of views in this novel. I really love this because it gives the readers something always to look forward to. It never stalls and you’re bound to find your favorite character amongst the cast.
This is one of the series I find that are sometimes out of my limit. There are times when I really enjoy the storyline and the characters but since this is a Fantasy series, there are also a lot of twists and turns and I find that I don’t always like them. However, I am able to get out over and still enjoy the story as a whole. It’s just that sometimes straight-up Fantasy can be a lot to handle sometimes.
Nevertheless, I love the attention to detail and all the different storylines in this book. You can tell that Bishop spent a lot of time working out the small stuff so that it creates a smooth storyline. I hope to read more in the series!
March 16, 2020
Well that was wild, emotional, heart wrenching and beautiful. I went into this book blind and had not read any books in this series before. I never felt lost not knowing any of these characters before, maybe a bit disconnected at first. The relationships, were hard, sweet, horrendous and sometimes hard to watch. I'd love to read the backstory on Daemon and Surreal's relationship, there has got to be a good story.
There was a lot going on, from before this book and, beginning here. At about halfway I found myself attached to the story's and can't wait for more. I will go read the series from the beginning I really enjoyed this. My friends have been trying to get me to read this series for years, I should have listened.
There was a lot going on, from before this book and, beginning here. At about halfway I found myself attached to the story's and can't wait for more. I will go read the series from the beginning I really enjoyed this. My friends have been trying to get me to read this series for years, I should have listened.
March 14, 2020
3.5 stars
Something was off with the structure and pacing of this one. Part one focuses so heavily on a couple of plot points that then get dropped or shoved to the side for the duration of the book. Surreal felt wildly out of character for most of the book and I felt that the ending kind of undid a lot of the emotional groundwork that The High Lord's Daughter in Twilight's Dawn had etched out. This one might have functioned better as two or three novellas instead of one overarching novel.
Something was off with the structure and pacing of this one. Part one focuses so heavily on a couple of plot points that then get dropped or shoved to the side for the duration of the book. Surreal felt wildly out of character for most of the book and I felt that the ending kind of undid a lot of the emotional groundwork that The High Lord's Daughter in Twilight's Dawn had etched out. This one might have functioned better as two or three novellas instead of one overarching novel.
April 19, 2020
I love the Black Jewel series. It is easily in my top 3 favorite worlds to disappear in. I read the series for the first time in '07. And I've loved all the books. (I had mixed feelings about Twilight's Dawn but who didn't. lol) So imagine my surprise when I read this and did not enjoy it. This book made me sad, confused, frustrated, angry and I ended up simply feeling heartbroken. It's such a pity to see characters that I have admired and loved for so long be turned into unrecognizable shadows of themselves. Here's a list of my thoughts in no particular order:
* After that first night in Daemon's room, we are constantly reminded that Daemon gave Surreal a choice if she wanted to stay or leave. But Surreal felt uncomfortable the next morning. Which is understandable - even Jaenelle and Daemon had a similar moment and discussed it the next day. But we're supposed to believe that Surreal loses all trust and companionship she has had with Daemon over centuries and doesn't even talk with him, other than snaps at him to "leash the heat." This moment is so disjointed that the rest of the novel doesn't feel right.
*Not only does Surreal not talk with Daemon but she doesn't talk with anyone. Not even Marian (at first). Does she not have friends? Did anyone in this book make new friends in the decades that have passed? I listened to the audio book and there were 5 hours left of 14 hours when Surreal finally talks to Marian. She's been scared and in this weird toxic situation with Daemon for months. Why did it take so long for her to talk with someone? It's very unlike Surreal to let something like this fester for months.
*Why did some characters know something was wrong but weren't allowed to say anything to Daemon? Karla and Tersa saw it - gave "crypitc warnings" but Daemon didn't "take the warnings" so now his mental health is back to a kind of shattered level again. They didn't warn him and Karla (during her cryptic, there's something wrong with you but I'm not going to explicitly say what) uses the term "wiggle waggle" ...why????? Your friend is literally killing himself and you don't say exactly what is wrong to help him? You're a healer for crying out loud!
*Does this universe have therapists? I wish they did.
*I call bullsh*t on the "every warlord prince goes through this" response from Jaenelle. Why does Daemon know nothing about his own race after rejoining up with Saetan? If this "extra sexual potency" growth spurt was planned and thought out - Saetan would have discussed it with his sons before he died. IMO.
*Daemon talks with Jaenelle and is now aware that he needs to take care of his mental health. Okay, cool. And now he's explaining it to Surreal. And she ....doesn't get it? She doesn't understand that Daemon can say no to sex. If these two characters were young and just learning about relationships and how to set boundaries and when those boundaries are respected, it's expressing a kind of love and trust and partnership - then I guess I could understand Surreal's puzzlement.
But these two are not young. They are not inexperienced. Surreal is a mature woman who is not only Daemon's wife but was first and foremost, his second in command. How does she not get that setting boundaries and respecting those boundaries is normal and healthy for a relationship? And then she GOES INTO HIS ROOM that night. THE ROOM where all of this started to have sex with him. That's ridiculous! She has been scared of him and of that room since the first 20 pages. Now I'm expected to believe she'd go in and offer him sex in HIS ROOM? And that she would still try AFTER HE SAID NO?? NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
*A lot of the little conversations between Surreal and Daemon were not included in the book. When they finally did say something it was to Marian or Lucivar about what they were telling each other. Surreal said, "I told him to leash the heat and he didn't." And Daemon said, "She told me to leash it and I am." This went on for 10 months or so. Why didn't Daemon talk to Lucivar sooner? "Hey bro, my wife is not believing me when I tell her the truth. Got any advice?" I've been griping about how Surreal didn't reach out but Daemon gets a little bit of my frustration too. When your wife is not believing you, trusting you, and is literally hating you during sex - maybe phone a friend?
*I'm trying to figure out why this book was written. What's the goal? Because both plot lines are so flimsy, this should have just been 2 short stories. 3 if you count Marian going into a coma.
What am I supposed to take from this?
Don't trust people even though you've trusted them for centuries? When you see something wrong, don't say anything because it's "not the right time" anymore? When you visibly see your friend/brother/lover upset - don't reach out and talk? The book relies heavily on the "everything has a price" and I usually love that. It's creative and makes sense in this universe. But for Daemon to risk insanity for the third time because conversations didn't take place doesn't make sense to me. Especially when the REASONS nobody talked to each other don't add up or make sense or are strong enough to justify the damage done to Daemon.
If you haven't read anything in this series - DO NOT start with this one.
In my opinion, you won't understand a thing.
* After that first night in Daemon's room, we are constantly reminded that Daemon gave Surreal a choice if she wanted to stay or leave. But Surreal felt uncomfortable the next morning. Which is understandable - even Jaenelle and Daemon had a similar moment and discussed it the next day. But we're supposed to believe that Surreal loses all trust and companionship she has had with Daemon over centuries and doesn't even talk with him, other than snaps at him to "leash the heat." This moment is so disjointed that the rest of the novel doesn't feel right.
*Not only does Surreal not talk with Daemon but she doesn't talk with anyone. Not even Marian (at first). Does she not have friends? Did anyone in this book make new friends in the decades that have passed? I listened to the audio book and there were 5 hours left of 14 hours when Surreal finally talks to Marian. She's been scared and in this weird toxic situation with Daemon for months. Why did it take so long for her to talk with someone? It's very unlike Surreal to let something like this fester for months.
*Why did some characters know something was wrong but weren't allowed to say anything to Daemon? Karla and Tersa saw it - gave "crypitc warnings" but Daemon didn't "take the warnings" so now his mental health is back to a kind of shattered level again. They didn't warn him and Karla (during her cryptic, there's something wrong with you but I'm not going to explicitly say what) uses the term "wiggle waggle" ...why????? Your friend is literally killing himself and you don't say exactly what is wrong to help him? You're a healer for crying out loud!
*Does this universe have therapists? I wish they did.
*I call bullsh*t on the "every warlord prince goes through this" response from Jaenelle. Why does Daemon know nothing about his own race after rejoining up with Saetan? If this "extra sexual potency" growth spurt was planned and thought out - Saetan would have discussed it with his sons before he died. IMO.
*Daemon talks with Jaenelle and is now aware that he needs to take care of his mental health. Okay, cool. And now he's explaining it to Surreal. And she ....doesn't get it? She doesn't understand that Daemon can say no to sex. If these two characters were young and just learning about relationships and how to set boundaries and when those boundaries are respected, it's expressing a kind of love and trust and partnership - then I guess I could understand Surreal's puzzlement.
But these two are not young. They are not inexperienced. Surreal is a mature woman who is not only Daemon's wife but was first and foremost, his second in command. How does she not get that setting boundaries and respecting those boundaries is normal and healthy for a relationship? And then she GOES INTO HIS ROOM that night. THE ROOM where all of this started to have sex with him. That's ridiculous! She has been scared of him and of that room since the first 20 pages. Now I'm expected to believe she'd go in and offer him sex in HIS ROOM? And that she would still try AFTER HE SAID NO?? NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
*A lot of the little conversations between Surreal and Daemon were not included in the book. When they finally did say something it was to Marian or Lucivar about what they were telling each other. Surreal said, "I told him to leash the heat and he didn't." And Daemon said, "She told me to leash it and I am." This went on for 10 months or so. Why didn't Daemon talk to Lucivar sooner? "Hey bro, my wife is not believing me when I tell her the truth. Got any advice?" I've been griping about how Surreal didn't reach out but Daemon gets a little bit of my frustration too. When your wife is not believing you, trusting you, and is literally hating you during sex - maybe phone a friend?
*I'm trying to figure out why this book was written. What's the goal? Because both plot lines are so flimsy, this should have just been 2 short stories. 3 if you count Marian going into a coma.
What am I supposed to take from this?
Don't trust people even though you've trusted them for centuries? When you see something wrong, don't say anything because it's "not the right time" anymore? When you visibly see your friend/brother/lover upset - don't reach out and talk? The book relies heavily on the "everything has a price" and I usually love that. It's creative and makes sense in this universe. But for Daemon to risk insanity for the third time because conversations didn't take place doesn't make sense to me. Especially when the REASONS nobody talked to each other don't add up or make sense or are strong enough to justify the damage done to Daemon.
If you haven't read anything in this series - DO NOT start with this one.
In my opinion, you won't understand a thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2020
Yay! I was so excited to return to the world of the Black Jewels. This was like seeing old friends - wondering how much they've changed, filling in the places where beloved characters have gone. And, of course, hoping Ms. Bishop plans to continue.
This book took me a day to read and I hate that, lol. Once I started I just didn't want to stop. I didn't realize just how much I missed this world. A reminder: this is dark fantasy, which I think some readers forget. Though this book isn't as dark as the original trilogy, there are hints as to some horrific happenings from the past. Overall, this installment read like another slice of life story, which is perfectly fine by me.
Unlike most, I got Surreal - a heroine whom some readers have chosen not to like simply because she'd been a whore along with being a very deadly assassin. There's definitely some regressive politics in regards to how "difficult women" characters are viewed. I like my heroines with a bit of an edge or not always nice. In the case of Surreal, she still has unresolved trauma and trust issues. If anyone could dance with The Sadist, it's her - that is, when she learns to trust herself and him. These two are on a journey and I'm certain they'll get it together.
In fact Lucivar, Daemon and Surreal are three characters who've got a LOT of unresolved issues that they're - in their own ways - are struggling to work through. Once again, the closeness of the SaDiablo Brothers is always touching and humorous. Out of the two brothers, Lucivar remains my favorite. He's loyal, loving and protective - in short, the kind of alpha male hero we need to see more of. He never smothers his wife Marian, though fusses (as Warlord Princes tend to do). He has his brother's back at all times.
I felt bad for Dillon but not enough to excuse his actions. Still, he wasn't irredeemable, and he definitely got off lightly given the known temperaments of Daemon and Lucivar, something he was rather thankful for.
This book took me a day to read and I hate that, lol. Once I started I just didn't want to stop. I didn't realize just how much I missed this world. A reminder: this is dark fantasy, which I think some readers forget. Though this book isn't as dark as the original trilogy, there are hints as to some horrific happenings from the past. Overall, this installment read like another slice of life story, which is perfectly fine by me.
Unlike most, I got Surreal - a heroine whom some readers have chosen not to like simply because she'd been a whore along with being a very deadly assassin. There's definitely some regressive politics in regards to how "difficult women" characters are viewed. I like my heroines with a bit of an edge or not always nice. In the case of Surreal, she still has unresolved trauma and trust issues. If anyone could dance with The Sadist, it's her - that is, when she learns to trust herself and him. These two are on a journey and I'm certain they'll get it together.
In fact Lucivar, Daemon and Surreal are three characters who've got a LOT of unresolved issues that they're - in their own ways - are struggling to work through. Once again, the closeness of the SaDiablo Brothers is always touching and humorous. Out of the two brothers, Lucivar remains my favorite. He's loyal, loving and protective - in short, the kind of alpha male hero we need to see more of. He never smothers his wife Marian, though fusses (as Warlord Princes tend to do). He has his brother's back at all times.
I felt bad for Dillon but not enough to excuse his actions. Still, he wasn't irredeemable, and he definitely got off lightly given the known temperaments of Daemon and Lucivar, something he was rather thankful for.
September 1, 2019
I absolutely CAN & WILL wait ! Wow, I’m so excited to just know that this series, these characters who have become part of me, & such an absolutely beautifully written universe is continuing 🥰☺️ (but not so secretly, CAN’T WAIT!!!)
November 8, 2025
Anne Bishop has done it again, she came back to The Black Jewels world and gave us another great tale! I can’t tell you how excited I was to see the new adventures play out and to rejoin this world for a little while.
In The Queen’s Bargain, Bishop continues with her multiple points of view narrations. It gives you a chance to see everyone’s perspective and here is the but; But, I really had a hard time with Surreal. And, maybe, even a little bit of problems with Surreal and Daemon. You know when you get to the point when you want to scream at a book’s character for being dumb, yeah, I got to that point with Daemon but especially Surreal.
That being said, there is so much potential to where this might go next. Bishop leaves you contemplating all the what-ifs to come. That in itself tells you The Queen’s Bargain was a really great read.
If you love a great fantasy read, check out The Black Jewels series. You won't be disappointed!
I received this ARC copy of The Queen's Bargain from Berkley Publishing Group - ACE. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Queen's Bargain is set for publication on March 10, 2020.
In The Queen’s Bargain, Bishop continues with her multiple points of view narrations. It gives you a chance to see everyone’s perspective and here is the but; But, I really had a hard time with Surreal. And, maybe, even a little bit of problems with Surreal and Daemon. You know when you get to the point when you want to scream at a book’s character for being dumb, yeah, I got to that point with Daemon but especially Surreal.
That being said, there is so much potential to where this might go next. Bishop leaves you contemplating all the what-ifs to come. That in itself tells you The Queen’s Bargain was a really great read.
If you love a great fantasy read, check out The Black Jewels series. You won't be disappointed!
I received this ARC copy of The Queen's Bargain from Berkley Publishing Group - ACE. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Queen's Bargain is set for publication on March 10, 2020.
July 5, 2020
Honestly, this book was disappointing. I was so happy to get a new book about the boyos, and I did enjoy reading about them, but I did NOT like the part about Surreal and Sadi’s marriage. I was unimpressed with how she turned Surreal into the bad guy who somehow wasn’t strong enough to be there for her husband. Maybe she needed to use that as a vehicle to bring Witch back into their lives, but I thought she really threw Surreal under the bus after all she’s been through and all she’s done for Jaenelle and Daemon in particular. Surreal’s reaction of not talking to or confronting Daemon also doesn’t seem true to character.
I’m happy this book seems to be paving the way for more stories in this world which is one of my favorites, but I had a hard time getting through it and it left a bad taste for me about the author as well as about all the characters who blamed and abandoned Surreal.
I’m happy this book seems to be paving the way for more stories in this world which is one of my favorites, but I had a hard time getting through it and it left a bad taste for me about the author as well as about all the characters who blamed and abandoned Surreal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
I finished it, and almost started it again. Yes. I was emotional, and cried, was captivated and soul-fed, and just ....yes. More. I love this world. I love these characters. More please. Yes.
Now excuse me while I have a good cry, a sweet, bittersweet cry, so I can find my emotional center again. But more, yes please. I will always come back for this.
Now excuse me while I have a good cry, a sweet, bittersweet cry, so I can find my emotional center again. But more, yes please. I will always come back for this.
March 27, 2020
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Queen's Bargain is the 10th book in the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop. I was so excited when I heard this book was going to be released as I have missed these characters and I thought the series was completed. I think this is a case of "be careful what you wish for." I'm not going to attempt a synopsis as there's no way I could do it without spoilers since the plot of this one is fairly simple. Needless to say the story focuses on Daemon, Surreal, Lucifer, Marion and introduces two newer characters in Jillian and Dillon.
Ok, I'm just going to say it. In may ways this story feels like a light weight retread of things that have gone on before, one that captures some of the story previously without much of its heart. The first half of the book feels very YA instead of the very adult tone of the original trilogy. The second half picks up and begins to feel more Black Jewelsish though never quite reaching the same level as prior books. Still it is a lot more enjoyable than the first half.
I love these characters and this world and was so bothered when many of these characters were NOT acting like themselves. Since when does Surreal run from a fight? Why does Daemon always have to be walking the edge of the Twisted Kingdom? He's so much more interesting when he can act like the strong lead he is. Thankfully Luciver is still Luciver. I really did not like Dillon's character much though I could at least sympathize with his situation to a certain extent. Jillian I have conflicted thoughts about, but that's mostly due to how Bishop handles maturity in the long lived races in this book, which I don't remember previously.
Still, there are some excellent moments. I would dearly love a short story about Perzha, the Queen of Little Weeble, and her sunlight allergy. You can also never go wrong with the Scelties. There are some truly touching family moments in the Yaslana household. And even though I was dubious at first, it was great to go back to the misty place to visit with Witch.
This book is definitely for die hard fans of the series, one of which I admit I am. In some ways I'm glad I read it. In others, I wish I'd stopped with book 9. Still I just know if a book 11 is ever written, I'll have to read it too!
The Queen's Bargain is the 10th book in the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop. I was so excited when I heard this book was going to be released as I have missed these characters and I thought the series was completed. I think this is a case of "be careful what you wish for." I'm not going to attempt a synopsis as there's no way I could do it without spoilers since the plot of this one is fairly simple. Needless to say the story focuses on Daemon, Surreal, Lucifer, Marion and introduces two newer characters in Jillian and Dillon.
Ok, I'm just going to say it. In may ways this story feels like a light weight retread of things that have gone on before, one that captures some of the story previously without much of its heart. The first half of the book feels very YA instead of the very adult tone of the original trilogy. The second half picks up and begins to feel more Black Jewelsish though never quite reaching the same level as prior books. Still it is a lot more enjoyable than the first half.
I love these characters and this world and was so bothered when many of these characters were NOT acting like themselves. Since when does Surreal run from a fight? Why does Daemon always have to be walking the edge of the Twisted Kingdom? He's so much more interesting when he can act like the strong lead he is. Thankfully Luciver is still Luciver. I really did not like Dillon's character much though I could at least sympathize with his situation to a certain extent. Jillian I have conflicted thoughts about, but that's mostly due to how Bishop handles maturity in the long lived races in this book, which I don't remember previously.
Still, there are some excellent moments. I would dearly love a short story about Perzha, the Queen of Little Weeble, and her sunlight allergy. You can also never go wrong with the Scelties. There are some truly touching family moments in the Yaslana household. And even though I was dubious at first, it was great to go back to the misty place to visit with Witch.
This book is definitely for die hard fans of the series, one of which I admit I am. In some ways I'm glad I read it. In others, I wish I'd stopped with book 9. Still I just know if a book 11 is ever written, I'll have to read it too!
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