The Queen's Price

Black Jewels, Book 12

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Gary Littman

Enter the dark and sensual realms of the Black Jewels in this sweeping story in the New York Times bestselling fantasy saga of three young women who must navigate life within the powerful SaDiablo family—and come to terms with Witch, the Queen who is still the heart and will of that family.

The Queen’s price is to stand against what you know is wrong. To stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to yourself. Especially to yourself.

Zoey, a young Queen-in-training at SaDiablo Hall, is wounded...and vulnerable to taunts and criticism. When an opportunity arises to befriend a stranger seeking sanctuary at the Hall, she puts herself and others in danger by ignoring Daemonar Yaslana’s warning to back off.

Meanwhile, the witch Jillian’s family prepares for her Virgin Night, the rite of passage that assures a woman will retain her power and her Jewels. The trouble is Jillian secretly went through the ceremony already. Now she has to explain the omission of that detail to her powerful and lethal family. And the High Lord of Hell’s daughter, Saetien, travels to Scelt to find out about Jaenelle Angelline’s sister—and perhaps to discover truths about herself.

With some guidance from Witch, these three young women will learn when to yield because it is right—and when to take a stand, even if they must pay the Queen’s price.

©2023 Anne Bishop (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Rich and fascinatingly different dark fantasy."—Locus

"Surges with spellcraft and engaging romance."—Publishers Weekly

"A fine continuation of the “Black Jewels” series, keeping the legacy alive with its tangled web of family and power. Bishop’s devoted fans will devour this, while readers of Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews who enjoy high fantasy may want to start this series from the beginning."—Library Journal

Sometimes secondary characters are not secondary

Daemon Sadi has been a much loved character since the beginning of the Black Jewels tales.
Janelle Satian (so? Sorry, I'm only listening these days), so Janelle Satian was a child from Daemon and Surrear, 2 characters who were pivotal in the initial trilogy; characters who were not only pivotal but loved.
That being the case, Janelle Satienne, named for 2 characters whom the natural course of time and death claimed and finally returned to shadows, Satienne could be nothing but a secondary character to me.
I didn't want Janelle Satienne, I wanted Saetan (damn, spelling...), but I wanted Sartan to continue on, as I loved him. Surreal herself was sometimes secondary, because how could she not be when there was Janelle, Saetan, Lucivar or Daemon to choose from?
A book that showed that Janelle Satienne herself felt that she was a second choice if her own family could choose.
And then to take that past the simple possibility of vanity or ego, to show that when she got past those easy and harsh judgements of her being mad about not being first in people's thoughts and he realizing that she felt ordinary and finally realizing that what she was was actually giving her the choice to live an ordinary life, and a life that would finally allow her to not live in someone else's shadow but finally have her own lift to live in the sun.

I love this world

Same characters with a few new ones sprinkled in. I love them all. I can't wait for more.

I am so happy but need more romance

This book felt more like the old ones which I loved. The story is beautiful, but I need more relationship development and action, less reminiscing.

So Good

Awesome read. you always go way beyond my expectations great series. decade long and still going strong

Loved All The Black Jewels Series

After finishing this last book, I’m hoping that Anne Bishop writes a few more of the Black Jewels series. I loved how the characters grew into what they are, and would like to see where they go from this point forward.

very enjoyable, bad parenting

I can't tell if the parenting decisions were supposed to be questionable, but sheesh!
The adults dealing with Saitien are so harsh that it comes off as petty and unhelpful.

Enjoyable

I love everything about the Black Jewel series, from characters, the world and the stories. Of all the books, this was enjoyable but nothing more. I enjoyed the story of Saetien (thank the darkness because I had a incredibly hard time with her in the Queen’s Weapons), the new characters we meet (especially Brenda) and reading about this new generation of covens finding their way. I’m in a different place than I was when I read the trilogy, so I have appreciation and empathy for what Daemon, Lucivar and Surreal are going through as a parent myself. It’s nice growing old with them and having Witch and Karla still a part of our lives.

The story was a bit predictable in places which is why I only gave it 4 stars, but as I said, it is still quite enjoyable.

This is the first book of Anne Bishop that I have listened to. It was a jolt for me hearing the unfamiliar voices of characters I love. Not completely for the male characters, but very much so for the female characters. But I always struggle when male narrators read their female characters. Even the most fragile witches/queens have a backbone and power does not mean loud anger to get a point across, especially for Witch. Still, overall Gary Littman’s narration was good. If you’re a fan, I think you’d like it.

A walk down memory lane

Take a walk down memory lane, some of the best stories from the black jewel saga told by the "butler"(remember him).
I want to say more but.....spoilers. beautiful story. feels like the third leg of a epic relay.
Thank you Anne....I await the finale.

Unsure but did Like.

I enjoyed hearing about all the characters again but I wasn’t really sure of the storyline.

loved it

the characters felt more like their old selves. The story is setting up for the next chapter in all the main players lives, but it's still fun, exciting, and amusing in places.