Disclaimer this is the first book in the series I read.

I loved this book. As noted above I have not read the previous books so I will say this book and the world were confusing but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I am going to safely say Anne Bishop is one of my top authors. The characters were engaging with their relationships being far from perfect. I love that nobody is perfect (except Witch but she is not alive). I will say the plot was kind of slow but not. There was no overarching bad guy not one particular bad thing/person that everybody is banding together to fight. This felt like a set up for future books. I mean I really had to nitpick to pick that out as a flaw because overall the relationship and internal conflicts were so intriguing and captivating. I would recommend this book and I will have to go back and read the previous books because this made me happy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Company for an ARC. This is an honest review.

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.

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.

This was like a long-awaited reunion among old friends. I missed them all and I loved to have them back.


Daemon is older, mature and well into Saetan's role as High Lord of Hell. His daughter is growing and learning that with the power like hers she can not do as she pleases. It's a hard lesson to learn and one that all her friends and family are eager to impart.


Surreal finds it hard to adjust to Daemon's powers growing, and while she is panicking and retreating to save her independence, she doesn't do what all good relationships need to survive, - she doesn't communicate her fears. As a result, both partners are suffering and growing apart.


Lucivar faces his own problems, his wife's deteriorating health and his adopted daughter's first love.


And above all of it, there is an unshakeable power of Witch as all of them are still living in her shadow. As a result, it's a bittersweet book. Oh, how I wished to have Jaenelle there, and she was! But not truly there.


At last, parallel to this plot, there is a small plotline about Jillian meeting a young Warrior from a different non-long lived race, and the problems both of them face. There is a wrongness creeping back into Kaeleer, and it needs to be cleansed. Again.


I loved Daemon and Lucivar, all the scelties of course and Surreal anytime she wasn't interacting with Daemon. Jillian was a sweetie, Lucivar's kids were lovely, and Witch was as formidable as ever.


I re-read the series before reviewing this book, but to be honest, it was still very easy to follow even without refreshing your memories. If you are a fan of Black Jewels series and feeling nostalgic, please, pick up The Queen's Bargain. It was absolutely lovely and I was sad to get to its last page.

Anne Bishop has returned to the Realms in The Queen's Bargain. We meet again Lucivar, Marian and their children. Daemon, Surreal and their daughter Jaenelle and catch up with their lives. But there is something not right with Daemon and while his family senses the danger no one knows the cause. Be prepared to sit and read this book and then read it again, it is that good. I would recommend reading the other books in the series first. Highly recommended.

Wow, I loved reading this book! I mean, I read this series because this book was coming out. I fell in love, and the past 3 weeks or so, I was watching to see if I'd be approved to read this book. The day I was, I downloaded and devoured this book. It was so freaking good!

Being with these characters again was so great! After that final story in Twilight's Dawn, so much changed in that book, and it was heartbreaking, though there were some positives, like Daemon and Surreal. Well, it's not so positive in this book!

So many poor decisions were made by the both of them. I felt bad for Daemon, because while they were both uninformed, Surreal thought she knew what was going on, and was wrong whereas he tried not to do wrong, but didn't know how to do right. It was difficult and hard to read sometimes, these people sometimes acting out of character by this out of character experiences. I just wanted to shake them sometimes!

I wasn't sure how Jillian and Dillon's relationship would play out. In the previous books, characters like Dillon who are a mix of good and bad, they usually lean towards the bad by the end. I was really interested which way he'd go, and watch them go on this journey!

That ended caused quite a shake up. And both of the main plots have consequences that are going to play out, for a long time in both cases, because they're things that can't be taken back. But I can't wait to see more of it play out, because I just love everything about this series so much and I can't have enough!

I can't wait to see where The Queen's Weapon will go! So excited for more!

Daemon Sadi is a Black Jeweled Warlord Prince of Dhemlan and the new High Lord of Hell. Surreal SaDiablo is Daemon’s wife, mother of his child, and his second-in-command. Their marriage is on the verge of collapse. Surreal feels threatened by Daemon’s Sadist personality. Daemon fears the tenuous hold of his sanity will splinter. Who can Daemon turn to for help? And what price will she demand? Will Daemon, Lucivar, and Surreal be able to purge Kaeleer of its current taint?

Jillian is a Purple Dusk jeweled Eyrien witchling. Lucivar Yaslana, the Warlord Prince of Askavi, is the only father-figure she has ever known. On the cusps of adolescence, Jillian is eager to explore her femininity. Lord Dillon is a young, Opal Jeweled Warlord. Dillon wants to train to be an escort and serve in a Queen’s court. However, the machinations of an unscrupulous witch ruin his dreams and destroy his reputation. Dillon believes Jillian is his last chance to repair his tarnished reputation. Can Jillian help restore Dillon’s social status? Or is their relationship doomed at the beginning?

It has been years since I last read the books, so I vaguely remember Jillian. I adore Jillian and Lucivar’s relationship. She is aware that he regards her as a daughter. Dillon, in some ways, reminds me of Daemon in the earlier books, especially his mistreatment at the hands of aristo witches. I understand why Dillon did what he did. He is a young man, who was wronged and forced into a corner with no allies. What I like about Dillon is that he did manage to maintain some sense of himself, enough to help someone during his troubled times.

Daemon and Surreal have always been my favorite characters from the series. However, I am not a fan of them being a couple. I did have trouble with that aspect of the story. It is a little jarring to see Daemon with someone other than Jaenelle/Witch. I feel Surreal got cheated in the relationship department. I adore Daemon’s relationship with his witchling daughter. It reminds me of Saetan’s interactions with Jaenelle. What I love the most about Daemon his how little has changed between him and Lucivar. The two brothers are still a formidable yet deadly team. They are quick to aid each other whenever the need arises.

THE QUEEN’S BARGAIN is book ten in Anne Bishop’s dark fantasy series, THE BLACK JEWELS. I am a longtime fan of this particular series; however, I have not read TWILIGHT’S DAWN, book nine, for personal reasons. These books are not for everyone, especially those uncomfortable with sexual violence and abuse. It is important to read the prior nine books in the series to understand the world’s unique dynamics and the characters’ history and relationship.

THE QUEEN’S BARGAIN is an anticipatory return to an unforgettable series. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment. I cannot wait to learn Daemon’s role in Kaeleer’s future.

It was great to return to the world of the Black Jewels and catch up with favorite characters in this 10th book in the series. Lots of things are going on.

Daemon Sadi is entering into a new level of maturity which could signal the end of his marriage with Surreal if she can't accept all of the man he is. His new sexual energy feels like it is threatening her independence which is the bedrock of her life. They love each other but these conflicts could shatter their relationship.

Lucivar Yaslana is also having some issues too. His wife is fading away after giving birth to their third child and he doesn't know how to help her. Also, his foster daughter Jillian has met a young man who wants to court her. Unfortunately, Lord Dillon's intentions are not pure since he was done wrong by a woman he fell in love with and had his reputation ruined. He sees Jillian as his last chance to redeem his reputation and will do anything to get her to fall for him.

Looking into Lord Dillon's past indicates that all is not well and Lucivar is going to have to take over lands that he had previously left in the Queens' hands to prevent a return to the bad old days from the land where he and Daemon were raised.

This was an engaging story. I loved the relationships between the characters and kept hoping that things would work out well for all of them. I enjoyed the Scelties both for the humor they added to the story and for their personalities. I enjoyed Daemon's power struggles with his little girl as he tries to raise an ethical Queen.

People who have been waiting for more in the Black Jewels world will be very pleased with this new adventure.

loved the Black Jewels series for years. It has a wide variety of characters, the magic system is unique, the romance is hot, and the emotional turmoil is spot on. Their are some very hilarious parts of this story as in this book we have children and some mischief making scelties.

This is a book we all been clamoring for as we need to know how everyone survives after Witch has left the realms. We do get moments with Witch but not in a she back kind of way.

Their are some very emotional content in this book and this is definitely a novel for a mature audience as is the whole series. I throughly enjoy returning to Anne Bishop black jewels series and i hope we get more and more. I know all good things come to an end at some point but i not ready to say goodbye yet. I have no idea if she will give us more as i thought the 9th book was the last.

If you loved the black jewels series pick up this next installment. Or go back to the first one and then read this one. It a series that will draw you in and delight you. It a novel that explores being true to who you are at your core, supporting those you love and protect even from themselves sometimes.

Be careful what you wish for! Like many fans out there I was very disappointed when Ms. Bishop brought the Black Jewels series to an end. I was very excited to see this book and to learn that there are more stories to be told in the Black Jewels world, but.... Change is inevitable and we can't really ever go back but even so I will say that I have very mixed feelings about this return....
The Sa Diablo family or what is left of it continues to live in much the same fashion as they did before. Surreal and Daemon have found peace and contentment in the love of their daughter and in their marriage but an unexpected twist throws things for a loop and definitely not in a good way. Thank god for family and unexpected old friends who come to the rescue in unexpected fashion. But as they say a price must be paid for all things and for some the price may be too steep.
Jillian the young Eyrian witch is growing up. For years she has run freely in Lucivar's home but suddenly her new maturity reacts to Lucivar's sexuality. Looking outside her home she discovers a young man in her local village that she wants to experiment with. Unfortunately this young man is using compulsion spells and trouble is suddenly knocking on Lucivar and Marian's well ordered lives.
While Lucivar, Daemon, Tersa and Marian still retain the old core of honor and family that was the emotional heart of the original series with the way some of the other characters have grown and are portrayed in the story the same feeling and connection does not seem to exist. Daemon's daughter Janelle might be dreams made flesh but she is a far cry from her namesake in her character and goodness. She does wear the twilight dawn and Daemon will have to quickly grow from an indulgent father into a strong teacher and guide in order to ensure that Janelle grows up in the tradition of the Sa Diablos who have gone before her.
Surreal is the character who I found the most irritating. When we originally met Surreal in the series she kind of grew on me however in this book I wanted to hit over the head for the block head she is. She has all the support that she can possibly need yet she acts like a mean girl towards Daemon and a wise woman of the world at other times with every one else.
As always the author does a masterful job of painting the light and dark of the human psyche and there are some laughs to be had with the demon dead queen of Little Weeble. Karla one of my favorite witches is back as a demon dead witch and god help all of the queens under Lucivar's leash that she's going to be his administrative contact for. Another favorite is Chaosti who is also now demon dead and still a good friend to Daemon.
So much has changed and yet some things remain the same. This book definitely reads like a set up book to a new story arc so readers sit, back relax and enjoy the ride.

Like all of the Black Jewels novels and stories, The Queen’s Bargain is a complex, complicated weave of themes and genres, appearing to be one thing before revealing another before becoming something else entirely. So much of it is light reading, romantic and amusing, and yet there is so much darkness and pain, you’re on an emotional roller-coaster where the hills get higher and the tunnels darker as the story goes on.

What Anne Bishop has so carefully woven together here is a story of relationships, healing, and power. It all begins with Jillian (foster daughter of Lucivar and Marian Yaslana), Lord Dillon (a young Opal training to be an escort), and Lady Blyte (aristo daughter of a Warlord and a witch). In case you forgot that this is, in so many ways, a female-led world, we watch as that bitchy little aristo takes advantage of the young Lord, leads him along, and then not only destroys him, but uses her circle of mean girls to ensure his reputation is ruined wherever he goes. By the time he meets up with Jillian, he has turned the tables, becoming predator instead of prey . . . but he has targeted entirely the wrong woman to ruin, and the wrong family to extort.

The story continues with Marian Yaslana, wife and consort of Prince Lucivar, who is suffering from post-pregancy complications that leave her mysteriously weaker by the day. Theirs is a story of true love and affection, setting the example for what a relationship could (and should) be. While there is a healing aspect to Lord Dillon’s tale as well, Marian is the first character in need of something more than ordinary healing – for her, the outcome is increasingly becoming life-or-death.

Where the story is at its deepest and darkest is with the relationship between Daemon Sadi and Surreal SaDiablo, whose marriage of convenience has become one of love, but which – following a night of play with Daemon as the Sadist – is quickly turning into one of fear and loathing. This time it is Daemon Sadi who is in need of healing, although they both refuse to see that, and their reluctance to admit to the problem, to discuss the distance growing between them, is what escalates a simple biological urge into a sanity-breaking catastrophe that could mean life-and-death for the entire realm.

Of course, this being the Black Jewels saga, nothing is ever quite so simple. Relationships overlap, often driven by lust or physical need, but just as often carried along by deep emotional bonds. Daemon and Lucivar are bonded as much by blood, their shared history, and the power of their jewels, connected in a way that allows them to not only support one another, but protect the women they love. Even deeper than that is everyone’s relationship to Jaenelle Angelline, the dead Queen, known as Witch, whose power (and legacy) continues to resonate through all their lives. It is she who has planted the seeds for healing with Marian, and she who may be the only one who can heal Daemon with The Queen’s Bargain.

The first half of the book is all relationships, which is entirely fine because Bishop writes such great characters, and falling back into the complex hierarchies of the world is as exciting as comforting. It is frustrating at times, especially with Daemon and Surreal (she felt a little ‘off’ here), but it is also amusing and heartfelt. It is when Daemon’s suffering reaches its peak that the roller-coaster of the story finds its darkest tunnel and its highest hill, but what I appreciated most about that is the way Daemon never stops protecting those he loves, even if that deepens his own pain, and even if that means unleashing both heat and rage on the world around him, arousing some and terrifying others.

For a long while I wondered how and why Lord Dillon’s story fit into everything, feeling like a tacked-on subplot for so much of the story, but it turns out to be the catalyst for so much we don’t see coming. The Queen’s Bargain gets significant in the closing chapters, with massive social and political shifts that will surely resonate through whatever stories are to follow. Bringing together all those themes of relationships, healing, and power, Bishop empowers the healing of one relationship to begin a wider, deeper healing for both the world and her characters. I cannot remember the last time I was so invested in a story, so intimately troubled for the characters, or so triumphant about the resolution.

Mentioned in SBTB's March New Releases, Part 1: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2020/03/marchs-new-releases-part-one/

RTC closer to release date

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.

This was an exhilarating return to one of my favorite book worlds. This was an extremely emotional story, and I definitely only recommend it for mature readers (as is the case with this whole series). The characters were so familiar it felt like coming home! Anne Bishop's character development is just so good - I feel like I know each and every one of them. I'm not ready to say goodbye quite yet - so I'm keeping an eye out for the next book!

Return to the world of the Black Jewels with this tenth entry into the sensual fantasy series. Set after Jaenelle Angelline’s death, this story focuses on Daemon, his relationship with Surreal and with Lucivar. There’s also a storyline involving Jillian, a young witch, in Lucivar’s household and her first romance with a young Lord.

After several books seeing Lucivar as a fierce warrior and Daemon as the Sadist, it was lovely to see both of them have tender fathering moments with their children. Not that the fierce warrior and Sadist were absent from the book. They both made their presence firmly felt.

It was delightful to have Scelties included for some lighter moments.

My only quarrel was that the ending was a bit deus ex machina but I certainly enjoyed spending time with loved characters and their world.

Wonderful, I felt like I was back in the world at once and just loved how the story line just picked up and kept running. Well done Anne.

After waiting so long for another story containing my favorite characters I have to say I was a little disappointed by book.
The story line was good but was disappointed as I was by the plot involving daemon and surreal.

The Queen’s Bargain by Anne Bishop is the 10th book in her fantastic Black Jewels series. I have read every single book in all of Anne series, and have loved each and everyone of them. However, that being said, Black Jewels has a place in my heart as being one, if not the best series I have ever read. It has been many years since the Black Jewels series ended, as Anne has been busy giving us other wonderful new series; and when I heard she was going back to the world of Daemon, Luciver, Surreal and especially Jaenelle, I was so excited. I am thrilled to say I loved returning to The Queen’s Bargain, and spending time with some of my all-time favorite characters, including Karla. In fact, I decided to go back and read the first three books of this magnificent series, and once again I was totally engrossed, unable to put the book down again.

The Queen’s Bargain focuses on multiple POV’s centering around Daemon Sadi, and his wife, Surreal; Jillian, a young witch who works for Luciver’s household, helping Marian and his children; Lord Dillion, a young lord, whose reputation was shattered and now uses love spells on girls including Jillian.
Lord Dillion, is a handsome young man, who romanced an evil woman, whose false accusations caused him to lose everything, including his family. Dillion moves from town to town, to find a life with respect, and when he meets the young and beautiful Jillian, decides to win her over any way he can. But what he doesn’t know, is Jillian is a like a daughter to the Warlord Prince of Ebon Rich, Lucivar Yaslana; who will always protect those he cares about.

Daemon Sadi, has been suffering terrible headaches, and one night he seduced his wife, Surreal when he was in the throes of being the High Lord of Hell, which scared Surreal. This caused a rift between Daemon and Surreal, which neither really understood, and Daemon needs help, as his mind is beginning to splinter. Who can help heal Daemon, before he totally destroys everything around him?

What follows is a wonderful and at times tense story that will bring Lucivar and Daemon even closer. It will also bring many of the other characters we loved in previous books, such as Karla, Marian, Daemonar, etc. Most of all, we will also get to see a little bit of Witch, who still has powers to help those she loves. Having been a huge fan of Ladvarian and Kaelas, the scelties dedicated to Jaenelle, I was thrilled to meet Morghann, a sceltie who is dedicated to Daemon, and some others cute pups.

I do not want to give spoilers, as this is just too precious to ruin the story, and the wonderful characters that have returned. If you have not read the Black Jewels series, I suggest you start with Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness.

I'm feeling torn about this title. It's been awhile since Ms Bishop wrote a novel in the this world. I've read every single one of them as soon as they came out, some I've read until I had to buy new copies. That said, I felt Surreal's behavior and reactions were out of character for her and it really made it hard to stay with the flow of the story. I found myself saying what the hell several times. This is not a character the readers have had limited contact with, but one of the foundation characters of the series. I'm left feeling unsettled and not in a good way.

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 Karla 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 either, 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.

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.