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anneschlea's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this (except for the Qhuinn part at the beginning, I mean seriously unbelievable stuff).
Spoilers ahead
Layla did a great job of "finding herself" and redeemed a series I was starting to get bored with. Starting with Lover Mine, I felt the series had been slumping. The characters were interesting enough I wanted to know what happened, but I found myself skimming sections and hurrying the book. The Beast was a step in the right direction and this was another.
I desperately want Chosen to return to the Virgin Scribe's land and keep the records after this book. Heck, I'm ready for a true Primale to take over and create more Brothers. And I LOVE Lassiter's new position.
Thank you for breathing new life into a series that had become somewhat predictable and hum drum. Love it.
Spoilers ahead
Layla did a great job of "finding herself" and redeemed a series I was starting to get bored with. Starting with Lover Mine, I felt the series had been slumping. The characters were interesting enough I wanted to know what happened, but I found myself skimming sections and hurrying the book. The Beast was a step in the right direction and this was another.
I desperately want Chosen to return to the Virgin Scribe's land and keep the records after this book. Heck, I'm ready for a true Primale to take over and create more Brothers. And I LOVE Lassiter's new position.
Thank you for breathing new life into a series that had become somewhat predictable and hum drum. Love it.
katilew42's review against another edition
3.0
Man…while it wasn’t quite the slog I was anticipating, this is still a novel I wasn’t looking forward to. Xcor and Layla are one of my least favorite pairings and I hate the way everyone else had to capitulate to their love.
5 stars for Lassiter and the breadcrumbs he began leaving behind. Also for the return of Throe and his new shadow enemies (though they need a new description since there are already Shadows).
4 stars for Trez and Tres and a second chance at happiness. Also love the realization that Lassiter was responsible, I missed that the first time!
3 stars for Xcor’s back story and some effort going into his rehabilitation. His story made me empathize a bit more but I still struggle with the “rape as a form of punishment” that he was into.
2 stars for only briefly touching on Assail’s detox? While I don’t like him, there’s still no reason to introduce and then drop him so randomly.
1 star for so many things…battle scenes with no sign of Payne or Xhex. V having yet ANOTHER crisis about Jane (we already did this when Butch had to torture him in the Pit). Seriously, V never gets another book to be truly front and center, the way Wrath, Rhage, JM, Blay and Qhuinn do. And Rhage technically gets 3, since he got the subplot in Blood Vow! Maybe he gets theB story in the next Legacy novel, but still. I also hate that the ONLY independent female in the bunch gets punished with a relationship where they’re constantly on the outs, I wish we got to see a strong woman with a man who was truly bonded to her, for real. V and Jane feel like proof that bonding is actually temporary. JM couldn’t handle Xhex, Payne was just fully disappeared from the series. Now Jane gets a guy who intends to cheat (I’m sure it’s a misdirect but still). Also annoyed that yet again, there is no mention of the trainees. And no resolution where Qhuinn has to come to terms that he was treating his daughter like garbage for no reason! He never even acknowledged doing it!
But my biggest gripe is that Layla was never forced to choose between Xcor and her kids. How lucky that it was Qhuinn’s night on her final night with Xcor…though he was clearly in the hospital so who had them?? And then she gets bonus time and takes it because Xcor is (she thinks) gone? I appreciate the forgiveness over vengeance plot but I HATE that all the women, even Beth, were so quick to forgive and fight for her to be with her kids when she did something that was so treasonous. Beth, especially, should have been at least somewhat torn over this instead of so staunchly on Layla’s side. Mate over children is a throughline I really am coming to despise in many of these novels.
5 stars for Lassiter and the breadcrumbs he began leaving behind. Also for the return of Throe and his new shadow enemies (though they need a new description since there are already Shadows).
4 stars for Trez and Tres and a second chance at happiness. Also love the realization that Lassiter was responsible, I missed that the first time!
3 stars for Xcor’s back story and some effort going into his rehabilitation. His story made me empathize a bit more but I still struggle with the “rape as a form of punishment” that he was into.
2 stars for only briefly touching on Assail’s detox? While I don’t like him, there’s still no reason to introduce and then drop him so randomly.
1 star for so many things…battle scenes with no sign of Payne or Xhex. V having yet ANOTHER crisis about Jane (we already did this when Butch had to torture him in the Pit). Seriously, V never gets another book to be truly front and center, the way Wrath, Rhage, JM, Blay and Qhuinn do. And Rhage technically gets 3, since he got the subplot in Blood Vow! Maybe he gets theB story in the next Legacy novel, but still. I also hate that the ONLY independent female in the bunch gets punished with a relationship where they’re constantly on the outs, I wish we got to see a strong woman with a man who was truly bonded to her, for real. V and Jane feel like proof that bonding is actually temporary. JM couldn’t handle Xhex, Payne was just fully disappeared from the series. Now Jane gets a guy who intends to cheat (I’m sure it’s a misdirect but still). Also annoyed that yet again, there is no mention of the trainees. And no resolution where Qhuinn has to come to terms that he was treating his daughter like garbage for no reason! He never even acknowledged doing it!
But my biggest gripe is that Layla was never forced to choose between Xcor and her kids. How lucky that it was Qhuinn’s night on her final night with Xcor…though he was clearly in the hospital so who had them?? And then she gets bonus time and takes it because Xcor is (she thinks) gone? I appreciate the forgiveness over vengeance plot but I HATE that all the women, even Beth, were so quick to forgive and fight for her to be with her kids when she did something that was so treasonous. Beth, especially, should have been at least somewhat torn over this instead of so staunchly on Layla’s side. Mate over children is a throughline I really am coming to despise in many of these novels.
mish9993's review against another edition
4.0
I skipped all the Xcor past sections....if it was in italics it was boring. Nice to see a happy ever after for the relationship and family group.
christinamcguire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
cristalclearshershelves's review against another edition
Originally posted on Slow Reader's Blog
The Chosen is a thrilling, emotional, and thoroughly compelling ride that is nearly impossible to put down.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward is a long and complex one. At this point, this series isn’t one you can simply jump into without repeatedly asking yourself, “What the fuck is going on here?” Which makes this review futile for new fans, but a fun one for long-standing followers of these memorable brothers.
To follow this series is to fall in love with a family and to experience great joy and angst as each character—each couple—evolves over multiple arcs and twisting story lines. If you’re looking for an opinion on whether to begin this series, then hell yeah you should. Now go on your merry way. If you’ve been following this series religiously or sporadically, then I’m happy to say that this book, number 15 (yikes!) in the series, is one of the freshest, most impactful, and gripping installments in the whole bundle. I absolutely loved reading this book.
You know that The Warden loves her multiple POVs, and I’m sure that at one point or another each fan has experienced moments when they've skimmed a side character’s chapter, frustrated with the lack of focus on the couple they feel matters. There was a moment during this series when I was ready to drop it because those moments were too often recurring, but these last two books have been pretty well balanced. The Chosen is practically perfect. 521 pages and I only lost patience with the pace once. There were other reasons I was frustrated (fucking Quinn!) but those were the good reasons that makes a book compelling.
Nearly all my favorite series characters are featured in this book: all the flawed ones, all the complicated ones, all the juicy ones. I got to hang out with Xcor, Layla, Quinn, Blay, Wrath, Vishous, Trez, and a few surprises, and their arcs blended so well together it culminated in a banger of an addicting read. It was a moving one as well, with plenty of moments of emotional volatility. This series has always been entertaining to me, but there have only been a few times when I felt my blood pressure rise outside of the exhilarating action scenes and the hot sex scenes. During The Chosen, my pressure gauge was regularly at a critical level. The plot and character development…it's so good. J.R. Ward showed the brothers in all their glory and faults; she showed all their facets. And Layla... badass.
I’m a slow reader, but this one I inhaled. There was no other way for me to read it. The Chosen is a top notch entry into this beloved series, a series that J.R. Ward impossibly keeps making better. I’m sure most BDB fans have already decided whether they’ll read this or not, but if you’re one who’s on the fence then I’m telling you to read this one sooner rather than later. It’s one of worth.
The Chosen is a thrilling, emotional, and thoroughly compelling ride that is nearly impossible to put down.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward is a long and complex one. At this point, this series isn’t one you can simply jump into without repeatedly asking yourself, “What the fuck is going on here?” Which makes this review futile for new fans, but a fun one for long-standing followers of these memorable brothers.
To follow this series is to fall in love with a family and to experience great joy and angst as each character—each couple—evolves over multiple arcs and twisting story lines. If you’re looking for an opinion on whether to begin this series, then hell yeah you should. Now go on your merry way. If you’ve been following this series religiously or sporadically, then I’m happy to say that this book, number 15 (yikes!) in the series, is one of the freshest, most impactful, and gripping installments in the whole bundle. I absolutely loved reading this book.
You know that The Warden loves her multiple POVs, and I’m sure that at one point or another each fan has experienced moments when they've skimmed a side character’s chapter, frustrated with the lack of focus on the couple they feel matters. There was a moment during this series when I was ready to drop it because those moments were too often recurring, but these last two books have been pretty well balanced. The Chosen is practically perfect. 521 pages and I only lost patience with the pace once. There were other reasons I was frustrated (fucking Quinn!) but those were the good reasons that makes a book compelling.
Nearly all my favorite series characters are featured in this book: all the flawed ones, all the complicated ones, all the juicy ones. I got to hang out with Xcor, Layla, Quinn, Blay, Wrath, Vishous, Trez, and a few surprises, and their arcs blended so well together it culminated in a banger of an addicting read. It was a moving one as well, with plenty of moments of emotional volatility. This series has always been entertaining to me, but there have only been a few times when I felt my blood pressure rise outside of the exhilarating action scenes and the hot sex scenes. During The Chosen, my pressure gauge was regularly at a critical level. The plot and character development…it's so good. J.R. Ward showed the brothers in all their glory and faults; she showed all their facets. And Layla... badass.
I’m a slow reader, but this one I inhaled. There was no other way for me to read it. The Chosen is a top notch entry into this beloved series, a series that J.R. Ward impossibly keeps making better. I’m sure most BDB fans have already decided whether they’ll read this or not, but if you’re one who’s on the fence then I’m telling you to read this one sooner rather than later. It’s one of worth.
jeannierose80's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't enjoyed the last few BDB books but this one wasn't too frustrating (high praise, I know!)
april_inkaudiodragon's review against another edition
5.0
I like Layla again! Was hating on her but she definitely redeemed herself in this book!
scarletruby's review against another edition
1.0
This is not one if favorites of series at all. I skipped entire chapters b/c I didn’t want to suffer through the filler. Not sure what the fudge is up with V & Jane but bravo sierra on his thinking about cheating. I really hope JR doesn’t do what I think she is going to to this couple. Loved Lassiter & that’s about it.
batcher21's review against another edition
5.0
I seriously despised Quinn and Tohr for the majority of this book! They both should have been kicked out of the Brotherhood for treason, and Quinn should have been banned from seeing the kids, just the way he wanted Layla to be banned! He did more to endanger them than anything Layla did!
marryd's review against another edition
5.0
I found this quite disappointing. Authors are entitled to take their plots where they like/need but they need to take us with them. The majority of this story hinges on some totally weird behaviour by Quinn which, in terms of character development, is simply not explained. WHY did he lose the plot like that? Saying that he is still affected by his childhood etc is not enough. That is readers speculating because Ms Ward hasn't explained it to us. Right from the first moment he started to behave badly through completely losing it to the resolution - none of it makes sense. I spent the whole book waiting for something to happen that would explain it to me, only to finish with disappointment. At one point I wondered whether there was going to be an evil twin reveal because it was so out of sync with the previous story.
This was not the only area I found unbelievable. The relationships between Jane & Vishous, and Tohr and Amber, are very jarring and hard to keep up with.
I think there are also just too many storylines (balls) in the air at once. It makes moving the plot along without losing proper character development impossible in a single book. I loved this series but it is devolving into a paranormal soapie.
This was not the only area I found unbelievable. The relationships between Jane & Vishous, and Tohr and Amber, are very jarring and hard to keep up with.
I think there are also just too many storylines (balls) in the air at once. It makes moving the plot along without losing proper character development impossible in a single book. I loved this series but it is devolving into a paranormal soapie.