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adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
I've been skimming this series since Tohr's book pretty much because they suck terribly but I am relieved to say this one was pretty enjoyable, and I actually read it fully! I will admit my enjoyment for this book mostly stems from me being a sappy fuck who is not immune to a good old sentimental adoption plot. Rhage and Mary's decision to adopt a kid was also such a relief compared to to the past three pregnancies in this series in which the vampire women went into ultra heat where they were in earth shattering agony which could only be temporarily soothed by vampire man semen ejected directly into their wombs (I am not exaggerating btw this is the in universe biology) because it was two adults actually having to talk about what they want their future to look like with no rash decisions made in the heat of cummies deprivation.
JR Ward also somehow managed to get me to turn around on Assail, who I previously dismissed as a lame Rehvenge copy. Something about his sad slut era just enamored him to me. Still don't give a shit about Xcor and Layla though. Also it was hilarious that there was a big dramatic moment when Layla gave birth and the babies were too premature to live when she's been pregnant for like 5 books at this point in in the time that she's been pregnant Beth and Wrath fought, reconciled, conceived, carried a baby to term, given birth, and that baby is now a fully integrated member of the household all before Layla's water even broke.
Vishous remains one of the Characters of All Time, with JR Ward including a parallel to Rhage and Mary's kid quest in which Vishous and Jane discuss their choice to Not Do That Shit. Also interesting to me was when Rhage is explaining all the brotherhood members to Bitty and he says something along the lines of "Zsadist used to be a slave and Phury lost a leg saving him but they're both okay now, they're mated" because that really is the world view these books put forth: man is traumatized, woman fixes man with her pussy, man is fine now and disappears from the series except for occasional mentions of him being present in the background of ensemble scenes. Except this isn't the case with Vishous. Vishous got a gf like nine books ago and he's still miserable. There's a scene where Mary and Rhage are slow dancing alone in a gym, and the camera pulls out to V's POV watching them and forlornly smoking a cigarette while pondering how clinical his relationship is in comparison (big Ben Affleck cigarette meme energy here) and how he feels broken for not being completely satisfied in his heterosexual mating like everyone else is before ultimately deciding he'd rather not think about it and going off and doing plot shit. And unlike Zsadist, Phury, Rehvenge, John Matthew, or any other guy who hasn't been plot relevant whatsoever since his book ended Vishous is the only character who has remained consistently involved in every book since his own. Like Vishous' misery and marital dissatisfaction is what allows him to remain relevant in a series where curing one's trauma necessarily means the end of one's existence as a real character.
Anyway, I've been having a lot of Vishous thoughts ever since that insane guidebook JRW wrote where she was hanging out with the brotherhood and Vishous was the only one aware of the narrative voice and actively fucking hated JRW for not letting Vutch be canon. Like what the fuck was that. I could go to grad school on this series.
Edit: HOLY SHIT I can't believe I forgot to mention the barely sublimated feeder fetish shit! The repeated scenes of Rhage eating an ungodly amount of food in one sitting really hit different when you know that JR Ward has admitted to being an avid viewer of the LABeast in her BDB newsletter. We get multiple scenes where characters are either shocked by what Rhage eats or delight in how what Rhage eats shocks others. Rhage also binges alone in times of distress, and we get detailed lists of everything he eats including a scene with meticulous descriptions of him buttering every piece of bread in the house in preparation to slide it all down his gaping maw. Knowing JRW loves to watch a man who's whole career on youtube is based on videos of him drinking cups of straight up olive oil so he can swallow 5,000 calories in one sitting, almost always ending with him moaning in pain or belching or dry heaving or straight up vomiting, makes the scenes of Rhage on a family dinner date at TGI Fridays more perverse than any of the BDSM shit people are always acting like Vishous is edgy for liking. The titular "The Beast" = LABeast? There's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind. I know weird fetish shit when I see it!
JR Ward also somehow managed to get me to turn around on Assail, who I previously dismissed as a lame Rehvenge copy. Something about his sad slut era just enamored him to me. Still don't give a shit about Xcor and Layla though. Also it was hilarious that there was a big dramatic moment when Layla gave birth and the babies were too premature to live when she's been pregnant for like 5 books at this point in in the time that she's been pregnant Beth and Wrath fought, reconciled, conceived, carried a baby to term, given birth, and that baby is now a fully integrated member of the household all before Layla's water even broke.
Vishous remains one of the Characters of All Time, with JR Ward including a parallel to Rhage and Mary's kid quest in which Vishous and Jane discuss their choice to Not Do That Shit. Also interesting to me was when Rhage is explaining all the brotherhood members to Bitty and he says something along the lines of "Zsadist used to be a slave and Phury lost a leg saving him but they're both okay now, they're mated" because that really is the world view these books put forth: man is traumatized, woman fixes man with her pussy, man is fine now and disappears from the series except for occasional mentions of him being present in the background of ensemble scenes. Except this isn't the case with Vishous. Vishous got a gf like nine books ago and he's still miserable. There's a scene where Mary and Rhage are slow dancing alone in a gym, and the camera pulls out to V's POV watching them and forlornly smoking a cigarette while pondering how clinical his relationship is in comparison (big Ben Affleck cigarette meme energy here) and how he feels broken for not being completely satisfied in his heterosexual mating like everyone else is before ultimately deciding he'd rather not think about it and going off and doing plot shit. And unlike Zsadist, Phury, Rehvenge, John Matthew, or any other guy who hasn't been plot relevant whatsoever since his book ended Vishous is the only character who has remained consistently involved in every book since his own. Like Vishous' misery and marital dissatisfaction is what allows him to remain relevant in a series where curing one's trauma necessarily means the end of one's existence as a real character.
Anyway, I've been having a lot of Vishous thoughts ever since that insane guidebook JRW wrote where she was hanging out with the brotherhood and Vishous was the only one aware of the narrative voice and actively fucking hated JRW for not letting Vutch be canon. Like what the fuck was that. I could go to grad school on this series.
Edit: HOLY SHIT I can't believe I forgot to mention the barely sublimated feeder fetish shit! The repeated scenes of Rhage eating an ungodly amount of food in one sitting really hit different when you know that JR Ward has admitted to being an avid viewer of the LABeast in her BDB newsletter. We get multiple scenes where characters are either shocked by what Rhage eats or delight in how what Rhage eats shocks others. Rhage also binges alone in times of distress, and we get detailed lists of everything he eats including a scene with meticulous descriptions of him buttering every piece of bread in the house in preparation to slide it all down his gaping maw. Knowing JRW loves to watch a man who's whole career on youtube is based on videos of him drinking cups of straight up olive oil so he can swallow 5,000 calories in one sitting, almost always ending with him moaning in pain or belching or dry heaving or straight up vomiting, makes the scenes of Rhage on a family dinner date at TGI Fridays more perverse than any of the BDSM shit people are always acting like Vishous is edgy for liking. The titular "The Beast" = LABeast? There's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind. I know weird fetish shit when I see it!
No spoilers here -- Possibly my favorite BDB book. It was so fun to jump back into (what felt like) the old days of the series. I love the newer books, but the older ones have my heart, and this felt just like the first 6 or 7. Rhage's sense of humor and rampant smartass-ness made me grin several times, and combined with all the Lassiter sass this book had to offer, it was light-hearted despite the seriousness of each of the storylines. Also, ASSAIL!!!!!!!! I have adored him since the first time he appeared, and my love for him has grown throughout the last several books. This book, however... if I could insert the "hearts in my eyes" emoji, I would. He wicked stepped up to the plate in this book, and I just love my baby so so so much! HE NEEDS THE NEXT BOOK :( I know it's not his, but it should be! I think whenever his turn to get a book comes, it may be one of the best in the series. His character (and Marisol's!) are just so effing awesome.
Reallllllly enjoyed!! Laughed, had a few tears, learned a few interesting tidbits that I'm curious to see play out. Great installment
My reading soul has been happy the last week or so. I went back to the known authors and I've been pleasantly surprised. I loved reading this next step in Rhage and Mary's story. I adored Rhage in this story, his love for Mary is something to fantasize about for years to come. I'm happy for them.
I want her to get on with Layla and Xcor's story. At the moment, they bore me. I hope something more is going on with others in their book because...snooze fest. Obviously there is more to Xcor but at the moment I can't seem to make myself care.
What in the Dearest Scribe Virgin is going on with, well the Scribe Virgin? I think she pulled a God on us, you know, free will and all. She better do something because her brother, I'm sure, is pissed.
It was good getting to see the old gang in more day to day activities. I know the enemies are the Lessers but they bore me too. I like this book all the more because we did not have to deal with that added plot.
I want her to get on with Layla and Xcor's story. At the moment, they bore me. I hope something more is going on with others in their book because...snooze fest. Obviously there is more to Xcor but at the moment I can't seem to make myself care.
What in the Dearest Scribe Virgin is going on with, well the Scribe Virgin? I think she pulled a God on us, you know, free will and all. She better do something because her brother, I'm sure, is pissed.
It was good getting to see the old gang in more day to day activities. I know the enemies are the Lessers but they bore me too. I like this book all the more because we did not have to deal with that added plot.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
another upstanding story in the endlessly orgasming vampires. is it me though or are the brothers getting a little emo?
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nunca me cansaré de leer cosas de esta saga, solo mejora :')
