Black Jewels Books in Order, Anne Bishop’s series

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Developed by great American novelist Anne Bishop, the Black Jewels series is set in a world where dark power and magic exercise authority in a deeply matriarchal society. The original trilogy is at the center of the series, chronicling the epic story of Witch, the living embodiment of magic, and the persistent chase of those who desire to harness her tremendous powers.

As her fate unfolds, the realm hangs in the balance, requiring significant sacrifices to preserve and safeguard the world she cherishes.

How to Read the Black Jewels Series in Order?

The Original Black Jewels Trilogy

1. Daughter of the Blood (1998) – A Black Widow witch witnessed the fulfillment of an old prophecy seven hundred years ago in her web of dreams and visions. The Dark Kingdom is currently getting ready for the entrance of its Queen, a Witch with greater authority than even the High Lord of Hell. She is still young, however, and susceptible to influence and corruption. The darkness is at the sway of whoever rules the Queen. Three guys, sworn rivals, are aware of this. And they are aware of the strength concealed beneath a little girl’s innocent blue eyes. And so, a cunning game of politics, intrigue, magic, and betrayal gets underway. Love and hate are the tools of this game, and the stakes could not be worse.
2. Heir to the Shadows (1999) – The Witch, the physical manifestation of magic, has been anticipated by the Blood for millennia. The harsh wars waged over Jaenelle, the young girl identified by prophesy, plague her since not all of the Blood look to her as their Savior. She is viewed as a myth by some. Some people are skeptical. And yet, some are eager to employ her, using her as a pawn in their sinister schemes. The only things that have allowed Jaenelle’s physical wounds to heal are time and her devoted guardians. Her intellect, however, is weak, barely able to shield her from the horrible recollections of her formative years. But nothing can stop her from fulfilling her destiny, and the day of judgment is drawing nigh.
3. Queen of the Darkness (2000) – Currently, Jaenelle Angelline is the ruler and guardian of the Shadow Realm. The corrupt Blood will no longer massacre her citizens and pollute her territory. However, when one chapter closes, another must be written, and Jaenelle must unleash the dreadful force known as Witch to vanquish her foes forever. She is still unable to stand alone. Daemon, her promised Consort, is somewhere, lost for a very long time in lunacy. She can only complete her Court and establish her reign with his unwavering love. Even so, their combined strength might not be sufficient to repel the most evil of enemies. And in the end, only Jaenelle’s greatest sacrifice will be able to save those she loves from the looming shadow of evil and unexpected betrayal…

Beyond the Trilogy

4. The Invisible Ring (2000, a stand-alone novel) – A prequel, but it is recommended to read it after the original trilogy. The Ring of Obedience has a Red-Jeweled Warlord named Jared chained as a pleasure slave. He murdered his master and fled after nine years of torture as a slave, only to be captured and sold back into servitude. Jared, a slave who had been bought by an infamous queen, is preparing to die since he believes he would suffer the same fate as the other slaves she had bought: disappearing without a trace. However, the Gray Lady might not be who she seems to be, and Jared will soon have to choose between upholding his honor or his freedom.
5. Dreams Made Flesh (2005) – A collection of four short stories: “Weaver of Dreams,” “The Prince of Ebon Rih,” “Zuulaman,” and “Kaeleer’s Heart.”
6. Tangled Webs (2008, a stand-alone novel) – The first to come is Surreal SaDiablo, a former assassin and courtesan who finds herself ensnared in a nightmare woven by the Black Widow witches. And she runs the possibility of being imprisoned in the house permanently if she uses Craft to defend herself. In order to save Surreal and the others inside without getting trapped themselves, Jaenelle and her family must now find the demons responsible for creating such a horrible world.

4. The Shadow Queen (2009) – The events depicted in The Invisible Ring and the original trilogy are when this book’s plot takes place. Theran Grayhaven, the last of his dynasty, is fervently seeking to recover Dena Nehele’s homeland. However, he must first track down a Queen who is conversant in protocol, is aware of the Blood’s code of honor, and adheres to the Old Ways. Lady Cassidy is a castoff queen who resides in the Shadow Realm without a court. She must persuade resentful soldiers to serve her once more when she is chosen to rule Dena Nehele. A warlord prince named Gray, a relative of Theran, was physically and mentally harmed by the cruel queens who formerly governed Dena Nehele. However, something about Cassidy inspires him to volunteer.
5. Shalador’s Lady (2010) – A sequel to The Shadow Queen. The Shalador people endured the cruelties of the despicable Queens who oppressed them for years, punishing those who dared to rebel and driving many more into hiding. Dena Nehele has provided refuge for the refugees, but it has never truly been their home. The Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, understands that cleaning Dena Nehele of tainted Blood will demand all of her heart and courage as she summons the untested power within her, a power capable of engulfing her. And even if Lady Cassidy makes it through her trial by fire, more perils lie ahead. Because of this, the Black Widows have visions of impending events that would forever alter the landscape.
6. Twilight’s Dawn (2011) – A collection of four short stories: “Winsol Gifts,” “Shades of Honor,” “Family,” and “The High Lord’s Daughter.”

10. The Queen’s Bargain (2020) – Due to a young mistake, Lord Dillon’s reputation is in ruins, making him an easy target for aristocratic women eager for little fun. He requires a handfast, or a one-year marriage bond, to redeem his honor and reputation. He focuses on Jillian, a young Eyrien witch from Ebon Rih, who he thinks has only a tenuous tie to the high society that rejected him. Unfortunately for Dillon, he doesn’t discover Jillian’s true affiliations until Lucivar Yaslana, the tense Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih, confronts him. Surreal SaDiablo’s marriage is disintegrating in the meantime. The Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, Daemon Sadi, is aware that there is a problem between him and Surreal, but he is unaware of the fact that his efforts to hide his own nature in order to protect his wife are causing his mind to fragment. Help must be sought from someone who is no longer present in any of the Realms-the only Queen strong enough to subdue Daemon Sadi-in order to save Daemon and the Realm of Kaeleer if he breaks. the Queen referred to as Witch.
11. The Queen’s Weapons (2021) – Daemonar Yaslana has similarities with his father, the Demon Prince, and his uncle, the High Lord of Hell, including the ability to be domineering while yet being helpful. He takes on the role of protector for his generation of the family, encouraging his sister Titian’s artistic endeavors and reining in his cousin Jaenelle Saetien’s more daring schemes. However, Daemonar’s assault places him under the supervision of Witch, the Queen whose ongoing existence is only known to a small number of people, after a young Eyrien Queen, whom Titian believed to be a friend, causes an emotional wound. Daemonar notices warning signs that a taint in the Blood might be resurfacing as he is confronted by unsettling changes both within and outside of the family. The High Lord of Hell, Daemon Sadi, may be forced into making a horrible decision if Daemonar, his father, and uncle fail to find the source of a well-known evil.
12. The Queen’s Price (2023) – Young Zoey, a SaDiablo Hall Queen-in-Training, is wounded…and open to jeers and ridicule. She ignores Daemonar Yaslana’s advice to back off when the chance to make friends with a stranger seeking refuge at the Hall presents itself. A woman must complete this rite of passage in order to keep her power and her Jewels, and in the meantime, the witch Jillian’s family is getting ready for her Virgin Night. The issue is that Jillian already underwent the ceremony in private. She now needs to defend leaving out that information in front of her strong and deadly family. Saetien, the daughter of the High Lord of Hell, goes to Scelt to learn more about Jaenelle Angelline’s sister and perhaps learn things about herself. These three young women will learn from Witch when to submit because it is right and when to keep their ground even if it means paying the Queen’s price.

 

Please remember to bookmark our post about the Black Jewels reading order if you find it interesting. The books by Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs might also be of interest to you.