Book Review: The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop

The Queen's Price
Author: Anne Bishop
Series: Black Jewels (Book 12)
Publication: Ace (March 7, 2023)

Description: 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.

My Thoughts: THE QUEEN'S PRICE continues on from THE QUEEN'S WEAPONS this time focusing on the young women. The story mainly focuses on Zoey, a young Queen-in-Training, who was wounded in the first book and is trying to come to terms with the trauma and learn to be a good queen. 

Saetien's story continues as she tries to redeem herself from the costly mistakes in the first book and learn what her role and future will look like. She travels to Scelt because of a prophecy of a damaged Black Widow to learn about Witch who was once Jaenelle Angeline. She has always felt that she was in competition with Witch and had no hope of ever winning the competition. Now she gets a chance to learn about Jaenelle from one of the demon dead who knew her.

Jillian is also a star of this story. She's preparing for her Virgin Night which is a big deal in the culture and an even bigger deal when one's foster father is Lucivar Yaslana, Demon Prince and Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih, and one's foster uncle is Daemon Sadi, Warlord Prince of Dhemlan and High Lord of Hell. Her problem is that she already went through her Virgin Night and didn't tell them and now doesn't know how to do so. 

The story also features a couple of new characters. Grizande is a Tigre witch who was tortured and found her way to SaDiablo Hall because of the prophecy of another Black Widow. Brenda is an outspoken Witch who becomes a teacher at SaDiablo Hall and helps train the young Queens-in-Training and the others who will someday be parts of their courts.

The worldbuilding in this story is excellent. It is a rich and complex society that is describled. Still the focus of each person's story is their quest to find out what their role should be in their world. Each is a kind of coming-of-age story.

It was wonderful to revisit the world of the Black Jewels.

Favorite Quote:

"You stand for the land and the people you rule," Witch said quietly. "You stand against what you know is wrong, no matter who gives the command. You stand and fight, no matter the cost to your court or to you. Especially to you. There is no such thing as a small wrong, Zoela. Not when you're a Queen. That's how the taint begins."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.