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dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a great classic 90s PNR, It has action, multiple POVs, A love story, and a HEA, while leaving room for many many sequels. If you like early Dresden files or other similar books, you’ll enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence
Minor: Death
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Since the announcement that Passionflix is picking up the Black Dagger Brotherhood series to make them into movies, I decided it was time for another reread of the series. I have some catching up to do anyway since I drifted away from the series years ago when I started working full-time. Depending on my mood, I’ll be either listening to the books or reading them.
Storyline/My Thoughts: How I have missed the BDB series, J.R. Ward has been a favorite of mine since 2009 when I first started reading her books. First, Wrath has been one of my book-boyfriends for a while. The first time I read Dark Lover in 2009, I fell for the intimidating sexy 6 foot 9 inches leather-wearing Blind King. I was jealous that Beth became his mate in the book, but she fit him perfectly since she could handle his alpha ways.
If you enjoy a PNR series with lots of world-building storytelling and bada$$, unforgettable characters, you’ll enjoy this series. The first book introduces you to the Black Dagger Brotherhood vampires, and the first one to get their story is the King himself, Wrath. He is the only pureblood vampire and is meant to lead the vampires, not fight along with them. He prefers to fight with his men to avenge what happened to his parents, but he knows eventually, he’ll have to give it up. He’s been tasked to help with bringing his friend’s daughter over for transition as a vampire. It will be easier for her if Wrath helps her. The woman, Beth, has no clue about the vampire world, and he will have to ease her into it. He’s not supposed to fall for Beth, though, but finds it hard to resist her.
Wrath and Beth’s relationship is instant-love and lust. A reminder this is a fated mates storyline, so these books usually have that trope in them. Wrath comes off as scary and intimidating, but the vampire has a way in the bedroom, and Beth can’t resist him. There is a reason, though, for the instant attraction between the two characters. I loved how Beth could handle Wrath in this book and how Wrath was very possessive and protective of Beth immediately, even if he was resistant at first to be with her. I can’t wait to see their relationship grow in later books in the series.
This is not a book about sparkly vampires. This book is about vampires fighting an evil that wants to harm them known as Lessers. These Lessers will do anything to rid Caldwell, NY (the world) of these vampires, especially the Black Dagger Brotherhood, an elite of warrior vampire brothers. They are the strongest and most intimidating out of all the vampires. I loved how J.R. Ward set up the first book introducing everything to her readers and what will come later in the series.
Readers will not only fall for the main characters from Dark Lover but the other Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire warriors, too. Wrath may be my top fave, but I have slight crushes on the others. J.R. Ward made them ALL irresistible in different ways.
I give Dark Lover 5 ‘outstanding ‘stars, and I’m furiously diving into the next books as I type this review. I have missed this world from J.R. Ward and am glad to be back in it.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and I recommend reading in order.
Steam/Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶
Genre(s)/Trope(s)/Element(s): Paranormal Romance. Fated Mates. Vampires. Instant Love. Alpha MMC. Vampire MMC. Royalty/Vampire King MMC. Half-Vampire/Half-Human FMC. Touch Her and I’ll Unalive You.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this to romance readers who love the Paranormal Romance subgenre. If you are looking for a long-written series with sexy vampire warriors, these are for you too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent
The FMC is sexually assaulted in the beginning of the book. She does get away before anything happens. Butch, her cop friend goes after the person who dared harm her. He's a police officer and takes justice in his own hands but it backfires on him and he ends up suspended without pay. Justice is served in the end though of the person that did dare hurt her at the end of the book.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't really know what to say about this book. It's the first one I managed to pick up and finish in a while so it had that going for it but part of that might have been that I wanted to see where the trainwreck go.
So many things were conveniently coincidental. It was full of tropes that I hate, like fridging, dubious consent, insta-lust/love, etc...
The take on vampires was different I suppose but the secret society based enemy was decidedly wacky. Will not be continuing the series.
So many things were conveniently coincidental. It was full of tropes that I hate, like fridging, dubious consent, insta-lust/love, etc...
The take on vampires was different I suppose but the secret society based enemy was decidedly wacky. Will not be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
funny
mysterious
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
This is the first book I have read by J.R. Ward. I have been eying this book for a week or so and how could I resist with that kind of cover 🥵. I didn’t know what this world was about or how the author wrote, so it was a clean slate for me.
In the beginning of the book I felt drawn in straight away, because you are introduced to a women reporter who has a close off the records friendship with a cop where she is given all the scoop on crimes for her articles. I really enjoyed their friendship and how the whole station treat her as their little sister, protecting her and making sure she is okay.
There is a trigger of an assault, but there is a minor brief mention/actions that is shown.
Once you get to the middle of the book you are thrown into a whirlwind of drama, danger and war. I liked how it went from a normal life to literally throwing you in the deep end with this centuries old war between species. But I really like how in the middle of all that the author managed to add some romance/sex scenes as well as showing the different kind of personalities of each member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Once I got to the end of the book I just fell in love with the characters more. You see a family forming which is very important to the character Beth. You see relationships grow as well as tensions and the danger of living this life. I love how protective they all are with one another, and how nothing will stop them from protecting their love ones…apart from the sun of course 😅 x
In the beginning of the book I felt drawn in straight away, because you are introduced to a women reporter who has a close off the records friendship with a cop where she is given all the scoop on crimes for her articles. I really enjoyed their friendship and how the whole station treat her as their little sister, protecting her and making sure she is okay.
There is a trigger of an assault, but there is a minor brief mention/actions that is shown.
Once you get to the middle of the book you are thrown into a whirlwind of drama, danger and war. I liked how it went from a normal life to literally throwing you in the deep end with this centuries old war between species. But I really like how in the middle of all that the author managed to add some romance/sex scenes as well as showing the different kind of personalities of each member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Once I got to the end of the book I just fell in love with the characters more. You see a family forming which is very important to the character Beth. You see relationships grow as well as tensions and the danger of living this life. I love how protective they all are with one another, and how nothing will stop them from protecting their love ones…apart from the sun of course 😅 x
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this. It is a fun vampire romance. I loved the new take that the vampires don't feed on humans, I haven't seen that in a vampire story before. I also liked that there were the cops, the humans, the lessers, and the vampires. All balanced and all had a different part of their story. They all came together we'll. It has a great balance of plot and spice.
this story is mainly about Beth. She is an orphan. Half human, half vampire. Yet she doesn't know it. Wrath has been charged to look after her and protect her as she goes through a potential change to a vampire, which is 50/50 at this point given her parentage. As the story escalates, we learn more about the brotherhood, Wrath, The lessers, and the history of the vampires.
I really enjoyed this and I will definitely continue the series.
this story is mainly about Beth. She is an orphan. Half human, half vampire. Yet she doesn't know it. Wrath has been charged to look after her and protect her as she goes through a potential change to a vampire, which is 50/50 at this point given her parentage. As the story escalates, we learn more about the brotherhood, Wrath, The lessers, and the history of the vampires.
I really enjoyed this and I will definitely continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, War