Black Dagger Brotherhood (Books 1-3)

I’m probably the last female in the world to read The Black Dagger Brotherhood books. I know, I know. So unread! *sigh*   This is an idiot mistake on my part because the books are wildly entertaining (cheesy bits of dialogue and lingo aside). And despite the fact that they are pretty extensive reads, each book is 40 plus chapters, you can speed through them because you just can’t get enough of those damn HOT brothers! So, over the weekend, I got my late start with books 1-3, (I was seriously reading from my Kindle at the pre-show to the George Strait concert).   

Here are my quick thoughts on books 1-3.  I’m afraid I’m reading the stories too fast to absorb them, so I’m mostly just trying keep this as a sum for myself, plus it is a great excuse for some eye candy.

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) by J. R. Ward
 
Product Description 
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

Review
What can I say about The Blind King?!  As a reluctant leader who is the last pure blooded vampire, Wrath is a pretty chill guy… until you mess with him.   Even though he is king, he doesn’t want to be and he doesn’t ask for much.  I thought this spoke volumes about him because he is not this way just because he is trying to be humble. 

Wrath also seems to just be existing without purpose.  He shuffles through life, not expecting anything for himself and regretting his past.  But then when Darius, one of the brothers, is murdered, Wrath honors the brother’s last request by going to Beth (Darius’s half breed daughter) to help her with her transition to becoming a vampire.  That is when everything changes for The Blind King. 

Once Beth and Wrath fall in love with each other, everything moves pretty fast.  Wrath, who has lived for centuries and has never loved before, decides to mate/marry Beth from one page to the next, which seemed kind of strange, but it is written in a ‘perfect fantasy, meant to be’ sort of way so I guess it works pretty well.  My favorite scene came close to the end, when Beth was crouched over Wrath, all crazed eyes, trying to protect him while he was injured.

Overall, fun read which provides a good intro to all the bothers and leaves you curious about the journey each of them will face.    

Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2) by J. R. Ward

Product Description
Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.

Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage’s protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone…

Review
How doing, Hollywood?

As the prettiest of the brothers, Rhage (aka Hollywood), has women dying to lay with him.  Problem is, he is tired of that kind of emotional-less existence (and hello, what kind of fuckhot guy wouldn’t be).  We find out in book 1, Rhage bears a beast within him, a curse for offending their Scribe Virgin, that is set off when he is enraged.   

When Rhage meets Mary, a human, his world is turned upside down.  But Mary is sick, dying, so despite the efforts Rhage makes to be with her, like sleeping with another woman to lose some of his ‘juice’, Mary pushes him away.  Come on Mary! Can’t you see that Rhage is more than just a pretty face?!

My favorite scene was actually when Rhage first encounters Mary. He is dazed, with blurred vision, after having fought as the beast, and he pushes her up against a wall and demands that she sooth him with her voice.  It’s hot!  I wish I could say the same about their sex scene.  I thought it was just so uber creepy that Rhage was encouraging Mary to take him, to use him after he had just had sex with some nameless whore.  But the beast needed to let go before it could be with what it truly wanted, Mary, so I guess that makes up for it.  *snorts*

I think the most interesting/annoying thing about these books is although each book focuses on one particular brother, side stories are included. The side stories I enjoy are anything having to do with any of the other brothers, especially the one in which Z finds Bella wet for him *giggles* but I can’t stand the side stories involving the lessers, the evil, soulless slayers.  It actually feels like a chore to have to read these parts of the story.               

I did enjoy Rhage’s story over Wrath’s.  Rhage sacrificed again and again to be with Mary and that was enduring, gut wrenching, and enthralling all at the same time, especially when he gave the ultimate sacrifice, agreeing to bear the beast for as long as he lives to save Mary’s life.   It was also kind of funny that she was the only one who could tame Rhage when he was in beast form.

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) by J. R. Ward

Product Description (from Goodreads)
Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Review
My favorite book so far! I LOVE Z, and to be honest, I’ve loved him from the start.  I can’t really explain the pull to him, but it is strong!

Ruin, not broken… Zsadist is beautiful!  And his story did not disappoint!  I guess if I had to describe Z, I’d say he is like an onion (LOL).  Many, many layers make up his monster, expect, actually he is not a monster at all.

Everything about his story broke my heart.  He was stolen as a baby, sold into slavery, used as a blood slave and a sex toy.  A century later he is saved by his brother, but by then he is ruined.  In the book, I really enjoyed how we get all of his back story, from Z’s POV and from his twin brother, Phury.  It is difficult to relive the nightmare of his past with him, but it does help to explain why he is the way he is.

After Z rescues Bella, she carefully (and sometimes impatiently) helps to unwrap him, and she shows him love.  And he cares for her, too, learning to attend to her during her needing (sex for 16 hours straight with a female in heat is a pretty good indication that the man is truly a ninja).   All the miscommunication between them nearly drove me mad as it drove them apart.  Z has been so hard on himself, and so hard on Phury.  When the brothers final open themselves up to each other, it is beautiful, and it is just as beautiful when Z finally decides to become a better man for Bella.  He took huge strides for her, in a relatively short time, and it was so emotional.  

In this book, the side story with the lesser, Mr. O, worked a bit better plot wise so I didn’t find myself as annoyed.  And I had a dozen favorite scenes in this book. *sighs dreamily*

 

Even though I’m anxious to get to the next books in the series and I’m utterly exhausted (thank you brothers for keeping me up reading until 3:30am every night), I’ll probably take a mini break to get to my Viking (DiTF was released today), then I will race back to the brothers! *le sigh*

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Posted at 1:24 am  •  Labels: 2010, 3 stars, BDB, Book Review, J.R. Ward, Kindle Edition, paranormal romance, Vampires