Series: The Black Jewels #10
Published by Ace on March 10, 2020
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 414
Format: ARC
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Queen's Price
Also in this series: The Queen's Price
Return to the world of the Black Jewels with this tenth entry, The Queen’s Bargain, into the sensual fantasy series. Set after Jaenelle Angelline’s death, this story focuses on Daemon, his relationship with Surreal, his second wife, and with his brother, Lucivar.
There’s also a storyline involving Jillian, a young witch, in Lucivar’s household, her first romance with a young Lord. and how Lucivar copes with being her stand-in father.
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 that a book full of emotional turmoil definitely needed.
The Queen’s Bargain
Starting with the first book in this series, I’ve found them to be comforting. Which is odd since the books deal with oppression and sexual assault. But the author handles hard subjects and emotionally upsetting scenes with a deft touch.
This book is no different in that people do some awful things but those scenes re balanced with scenes of tenderness and care. The Black Jewels series is very much about finding allies and family and how they make you stronger.
My thoughts about The Queen’s Bargain
While not the strongest book in the series, I enjoyed spending time with the characters. Seeing how their lives were continuing after the life changing events in earlier books was comforting in a way.
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.
If you haven’t read the other books in the series, this isn’t the place to start and will actually spoil storylines from earlier books. But really, pick up the first book in the series and try it.
Your thoughts
Should authors revisit a series that they’ve finished? When they do revisit a series, are you excited or apprehensive? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
Other books
Read the first book in the Black Jewels series, Daughter of the Blood.
Anne Bishop also writes an alternate history, urban fantasy. Written in Red is the first book.
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