I really love Anne Bishop's work, especially the Black Jewels world. It was nice to be back in this familiar world again with a new story and new characters mixed in with usual and familiar ones. ( )

This was both not what I thought it would be from the description and not what I wanted from a new Black Jewels book? Struggled to finish ( )

I love returning to this world, and although I feel like certain characters sometimes acted very unlike themselves, and it didn't necessarily resolve itself by the end, I still can't wait to see what happens next. I really want more of Daemon and Surreal figuring out where they stand with each other and how to get to a good place again. I want more of Lucivar and Marian dealing with their offspring and figuring out their new normal. And I always want more Scelties.

I can hardly wait for the next installment! ( )

Listened to audio narrated by Gary Litman. He did a very nice job but I was very disappointed this latest installment wasn't narrated by John Sharian. I've come to love his narration as much as this series. Litman gives a grittier narration but it was still well done, I just preferred John Sharian's work.

I love this series and being able to revisit was both wonderful and sad. We've jumped in time where Lucivar and Daemon have children of their own and this book takes us on a journey with the SaDiablo family, we find out that Jaenelle left a lot of gifts behind to take care of those she loved even after her death.

Lucvar's honorary daughter Jillian is starting the transition to young woman. She's an Eyrien and one of the long lived races and she's starting to spread her wings. When a young Lord from another province comes to Ebon Rih, charming her, she believes she's in love.

Lord Dillan has always wanted to serve as an escort, but a cruel young queen abused his trust, used him cruelly before ruining his reputation. As in past books, the men of the blood who've been used cruelly often turn cruel themselves and we see Dillan's journey of bright potential take a terrible turn. By the time he gets to Ebon Rih and sets his sights on Jillan he has no idea how wrong things are about to go for him and that how much his actions are the catalyst for major changes.
Marion has given birth but she isn't recovering and the heartbreak of it is palpable, I could feel the suffering, worry and stress of everyone.

It was also very sad to see Daemon and Surreal struggle so hard, I remember them having a more open talkative relationship and to see things go so wrong for them, watching them suffer unnecessarily was difficult. Daemon is fighting so hard to do what he thought was the right thing, threatening his life and sanity and Surreal turning into a stranger. It was hard to recognize the confident assassin from previous books with the woman struggling, and out of control with Daemon's heat. It was so frustrating watching these two talk but not TALK to each other about what was going on.

I hadn't realized Jaenelle was going to return to these stories, she's just as wonderful as she was in the past but it's also very sad. I have no idea where the author is going to take Surreal, Daemon and Jaenelle but I hope in the end it will be happiness.

If all of the above isn't enough, we still have Scelties and some wonderful new characters as well as the children growing up, having their own strong presence leaving us with great reading now and even more possibilities for the future. This book will take you on a journey with the SaDiablo's and 'everything has a price.' I don't want to give too much away but I will say as soon as I finished it, I started to read it again.

The next book, 'The Queen's Weapons' is set to be published in 2021!. It's going to be a long year to wait.

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I pre-ordered this book as I do for every Anne Bishop book when it was first announced nearly a year ago, and I've been waiting and dreading it ever since that time. Daemon Sadi and Jaenelle's story is one of my very favorite romances, and I wasn't quite sure how I'd handle Daemon and Surreal's marriage.
However, I should have just trusted Anne Bishop to write the perfect story to carry on the Black Jewel's legacy. And we get lots of the regular characters: Lucivar, Marian, and their brood, the people at the Hall, and Karla (kiss kiss). There's a nice subplot involving Lucivar's ward, Jillian, and a young lord Dillon who has been twisted by the machinations of a young witch.
Daemon is following the Twisted Path once again, and his relationship with Surreal is strained, not helped by her fleeing him rather than accepting him as he is. I don't want to give too much away, but all is resolved with the exception of some loose ends that (I hope) will lead to another book in this fabulous series. ( )