Showing posts with label Black Dagger Brotherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Dagger Brotherhood. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Shadow's Review

The Shadows by J. R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 13
Published March 31, 2015 by NAL
4.5 Bleeding and Fragile Fangs

"Some sacrifices come at just too great a cost, what would you be willing to give up to ensure the happiness of a loved one?"

Synopsis - 

Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.

Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice... (Goodreads)

Review - 

It takes a very brave and confident writer to not give the reader the happy ending they believe a character deserves. What some people fail to keep in mind is the simple face that, not all stories can end with a happily ever after for everyone involved, especially when staying true to the storyline. Let's face it, in real life sometimes no one gets one at all.  So when going to pick up this read, be sure to pick up a box of Kleenex right along with it.

Upon learning more about the brothers, iAM and Trez, readers discovered there was much more to their past than anyone would have thought. The twins being on the run from their past for more than century. A fate that Trez saw as worst than death, to the point where he sullied himself to the point of no redemption. Something in which he thought, even hoped, would save him from being turned into a breeding machine for the future Queen of the Shadows. What Trez hadn't foreseen was falling in love with someone, and end up being ashamed of all of those very deeds. What's even more tragic is when he does own up to his feelings, and finds out she reciprocates his feelings, he also learns they have a very limited time with one another. The time they had left was lived up to its fullest.

The Shadows, while maybe not the most action packed, was truly one of the most emotionally packed of the series. Jam packed with love, lost, loyalty, drama, intrigue and gives readers a chance to catch up on whichever couple was their favorite, because all are involved in this one in some way, shape or form. As with any loss, it effects all involved.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The King Review

The King by J. R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 12
Published April 1, 2014
4 Bloody Fangs


"Sometimes you don't know what it is you really want, until its taken away from you."




Synopsis -

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King… 

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?  (Goodreads)


Review -

After an attempt on his life, the last thing Wrath expects is to lose his throne to the pen as apposed to the sword.  The Band of Bastards may be merciless when it comes to violence and mayhem, but the Glymera are relentless with their conniving, and cowardice.  What truly comes as a surprise to the Blind King is when he realizes though he despises being trapped behind that desk, he truly does value the crown that was forced upon his head.  That realization just may be too little too late.  Unfortunately for him, that may not be his only loss.  With his Queen and Shellan, Beth, obsessing over having a child, which he is adamantly opposed to, trying to bring about her needing, he comes to a crossroads.  Wrath's decision on whether to service her or drug her when her needing does come about just may be null and void when destiny decides to take control and throw them both a curve-ball.  

Two more couples are on the forefront in this one as well; Sophia and Assail, Xcor and Layla.  At the end of Quinn and Blay's book, Lover at Last, Sophia was being kidnapped by Benloise's men.  Thinking she is on her own, she does whatever it takes to ensure her survival.  Helpless damsel she is not.  And even though she is only human, she is by no means weak and knows how to work with whatever she needs to.  All the while she is planning her own rescue, Assail, with the help of his twins, is out desperately and bloodily trying to find her.  Which would probably be easier is he wasn't so quick to kill everyone of Benloise men seeing how dead men can't speak, and if could stop snuffing powder up his nose.  

Meanwhile, Layla still cannot bring herself to stop thinking of the male with the grotesque scar upon his face, Xcor, only to her, it is not grotesque at all.  The only she disapproves of when it comes to him is his ambitions to gain the crown.  And she is more than willing to use his feelings for her, as well as her body, to thwart his plans.  Xcor just may have found a foe he cannot defeat, his heart.  And while Layla may not fear for herself around Xcor, she does not feel that way around his right hand man, Throe.  Throe just may be even uglier on the inside than Xcor is on the outside.

There also seems to be another couple in the making; Trez and Selena.  Though both of their times just may be up, one may not have much longer until they join the Fade while the other may be forced to live up to a fate they have running from for a very long time.

Interactions with long time favorites, as a lot of what's going on hits to home with them, and they are more than willing to open up to their brother, Wrath, in his time of need; Tohrment and Zsadist.  John Matthew (offnote: if they don't hurry up and figure he is indeed Darious I just may shoot somebody!!!) also plays a part, after-all Beth is his "sister" (I swear, that is probably the only thing keeping from giving this a full 5, it is driving me insane!).  iAm not only looking after his brother, but also helping with the Brothers and the Queen.  Rhev gets the opportunity to smack the Glymera in the face.  And a new character is introduced, s'Ex, the executioner of the s'Hibe, well, if you as the women at the Iron Mask, the Love god.  

The King has been long awaited by fans of The Black Dagger Brotherhood for a very long time.  Though some aspects may disappoint, sorry I am just hung up on the John Matthew/Darious bit, to me it has gone on long enough and when he had that first seizure in this book I thought for sure... Anyway, it was still well worth the wait.  This book, and series, is a true Must Read, though definitely not as a stand alone. 

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