The Queen's Bargain

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Gary Littman

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.

Critic reviews

"Lavishly sensual...a richly detailed world based on a reversal of standard genre cliches."--Library Journal on Daughter of the Blood

"The Black Jewels novels are seductive--once you start, you just cannot stop reading."--Romance Reviews Today

"Rich and fascinatingly different dark fantasy."--Locus on Heir to the Shadows

"Vividly painted . . . dramatic, erotic, hope-filled."--Lynn Flewelling on Daughter of the Blood

"A storyteller of stunning intensity, Ms. Bishop has a knack for appealing but complex characterization realized in a richly drawn, imaginative ambience."--Romantic Times

"Surges with spellcraft and engaging romance."--Publishers Weekly on The Shadow Queen

"Vivid and sympathetic characters, a fascinating and fully realized magical system, lavish and sensuous descriptions, and interesting world building . . . many compelling and beautifully realized elements. A terrific read."--SF Site on Heir to the Shadows

"Intense . . . erotic, violent, and imaginative."--Nancy Kress on Daughter of the Blood

"Daemon, Lucivar, and Saetan ooze more sex appeal than any three fictional characters created in a very long time."--The Romance Reader on Heir to the Shadows

LIKE FINALLY COMIN' HOME

I was actually depressed after completing the Black Jewels series, One of the most moving, gripping and entrancing set of books I've read in my lifetime (we're talkin' thousands of books)..
Read it from the beginning, join me in an undeniably additive pleasure..s

Pretty good follow up

Well, it wasn’t the first three core novels, but it brought back many of the characters - those from the long-lived races - some generations after Witch cleansed the realms in Queen of the Darkness. Character development was excellent, working out the established events and dynamics both at the individual level and among the realms.

I didn’t like the new narrator, I’m afraid. Not that the original narrator of the early books was at all perfect, but... I didn’t like this narrator’s voice for Lucivar, who sounded like a deck hand for some reason, or especially the older women’s voices, Karla and the eccentric queen who both inexplicably also sounded like deck hands with forty-year cigarette habits. Also. It’s a French word and doesn’t obey English pronunciation rules, but “valet” really is pronounced “val- AY,” without the “t,” just like “filet” is pronounced “fill- LAY.” But other than those relatively significant pet peeves, the narrator was pretty good. Definitely worth a credit.

The story

I enjoy the story! However, preferred previous book narrator… This one voice is too over exaggerated.

Loved it

Yes, the narrator has changed, but once I adjusted to hearing things in a slightly different tone I had no qualms. If you enjoyed the other books in this series then this is also a must read (or listen, as the case may be).

Where's my voice guy?

A fan forever. HOWEVER... All the years I've spent getting to know these characters was almost destroyed by the choice of narrator. His voice was nice, but his CHARACTER VOICES were abominable, and I've never used that word before. I'm not sure how long it will take me to forgive what he did to them. Janelle? Karla? Dae.. forget it. It would take too long to list them all.