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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Ok this is a must read for ALL BDB fans! its was awesome i was laughing so hard thru almost all of it! Rhage and V crack me up!
This was a nice novella to remember how Wrath first struggled to accept his new position as the King. Loved Beth and her bigger than life attittude.
This is an amazing book that readers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood are sure to love. But do *not* read this until you have completed the first six books in the series - there are not only spoilers, but you won't be able to follow a lot of the details. The short story this begins with is a great piece about Zsadist's familial relationships. There are also interviews with each of the Brothers that give a little insight into their characters. And each of the first six novels is summarized, plus JR provides details on the writing of each, why the plot goes in a certain direction or how difficult it was for her to have a character do something in particular.I really enjoyed the background.
I think what I liked most about this book, which has little to do with the BDB series itself, is the section covering JR's writing. She spells out her rules then discusses each one in detail. She also talks about her own writing regime and how to not only go about getting published, but how to deal with promotion and popularity. It's a chapter that would probably interest any writer, even if you don't read the series.
This book is packed with information about the BDB series, the characters, the writing, the author - it's a "must read" for fans.
I think what I liked most about this book, which has little to do with the BDB series itself, is the section covering JR's writing. She spells out her rules then discusses each one in detail. She also talks about her own writing regime and how to not only go about getting published, but how to deal with promotion and popularity. It's a chapter that would probably interest any writer, even if you don't read the series.
This book is packed with information about the BDB series, the characters, the writing, the author - it's a "must read" for fans.
Honestly, I read it mainly for the "For Writers" info. I haven't read her books, but they seem interesting from what this had. I might give them a read somewhere down the line. =)
emotional
funny
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 enjoyed this insider's guide to The Black Dagger Brotherhood books. Got me actually more into the series. The book was informative, lots of new info, and it was funny. How can it not be funny, with the Brothers.
It had interviews with the Brothers, lots of info about the writing process, deleted scenes etc.
It had interviews with the Brothers, lots of info about the writing process, deleted scenes etc.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish there was a way to review the series as a whole. While this companion offered some background information on the characters, it still did not relieve the bad taste I had in my mouth from the Characters. I love Z and think he had the most development throughout the series, the rest were like horny HS kids with guns, fans, and daggers. I stopped reading half-way through Tohrment's book. It bothered me early on that all the main yt characters adopted a lot from African American culture, including speaking in AAVE yet no Black or Brown min characters. The Black characters who are depicted are Personal Drivers, Pimps, Drug Pushers, Relatively Submissive. Those tropes are old and I could not stay so moved on
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
When I was finally done with J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series, I felt a sense of accomplishment for making it through all of them, even the bad ones. Then, however, another friend informed me of The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide. Never one to read hokey "companion" books, I thought nothing of it until I was told it contained a novella about Zsadist and Bella involving the birth of their child. Naturally, I had to borrow it, just to make sure I'd read everything, right?
::: Contents :::
The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide starts off with the novella, called Father Mine, which tells the story of Lover Awakened's couple, Zsadist and Bella, as they adjust to being first-time parents. It's a typical romance story with some angst, some arguing, and then the make-up sex, but nothing that's crucial to the plot of the series.
After the novella comes "Dossiers" of the brothers with a fact sheet, an "interview" with the author, and bits and pieces of their character development.
Ward includes a section for aspiring writers including her initial proposal for the series and some answers to questions sent in by her readers.
Following the writers' section are deleted scenes, outtakes, an interview with Ward, a timeline for the series, abbreviations, a key for the "old language" alphabet, an interview with Ward "conducted by" her characters, and then an interview with a character who was dead even at the time of the book's release.
::: Wow, That's Some Ego You Have There :::
I'll make no apology; books like the BDB series are guilty pleasures for me: mindless summer reading that are like potato chips. I don't view them as any great work of literature, and I always hope that the author views them as tongue-in-cheek as I do.
Judging by The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide, J.R. Ward takes herself really seriously, as must a lot of her fans. However, as a casual fan of the series, the ego involved in this book was enough to choke me.
The interviews with the Brothers and then theirs with her are hokey at best. She inserts herself into her stories in this way (something I almost always hate), and sees herself as something of a bad*ss, judging by the dialogue she writes for herself here. I spent most of the interviews face-palming and muttering "vampire. romance. novel."
The novella is sweet, if not terribly compelling, and the timeline is helpful. Outtakes and deleted scenes are always welcomed by a fan base, but many other authors provide those on their Web sites for free as a thank you to fans for buying their books in the first place. The schlockiest of all is the interview with (spoiler if you haven't read the series) Tohrment and Wellesie, "conducted before her death." Really? Come on. Put out novellas about your dead characters if you must (Stephenie Meyer, I'm looking at you), but conducting interviews with them after you've killed them is just plain silly.
Diehard fans of the series may enjoy this, but I spent my time cringing at the worst parts and skimming a lot of it. Had I paid money for it, I'd likely be incensed, but as it is, I simply wish I had the time back that I spent reading it.
This review originally published on Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Black_Dagger_Brotherhood_J_R_Ward/content_517324902020
::: Contents :::
The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide starts off with the novella, called Father Mine, which tells the story of Lover Awakened's couple, Zsadist and Bella, as they adjust to being first-time parents. It's a typical romance story with some angst, some arguing, and then the make-up sex, but nothing that's crucial to the plot of the series.
After the novella comes "Dossiers" of the brothers with a fact sheet, an "interview" with the author, and bits and pieces of their character development.
Ward includes a section for aspiring writers including her initial proposal for the series and some answers to questions sent in by her readers.
Following the writers' section are deleted scenes, outtakes, an interview with Ward, a timeline for the series, abbreviations, a key for the "old language" alphabet, an interview with Ward "conducted by" her characters, and then an interview with a character who was dead even at the time of the book's release.
::: Wow, That's Some Ego You Have There :::
I'll make no apology; books like the BDB series are guilty pleasures for me: mindless summer reading that are like potato chips. I don't view them as any great work of literature, and I always hope that the author views them as tongue-in-cheek as I do.
Judging by The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide, J.R. Ward takes herself really seriously, as must a lot of her fans. However, as a casual fan of the series, the ego involved in this book was enough to choke me.
The interviews with the Brothers and then theirs with her are hokey at best. She inserts herself into her stories in this way (something I almost always hate), and sees herself as something of a bad*ss, judging by the dialogue she writes for herself here. I spent most of the interviews face-palming and muttering "vampire. romance. novel."
The novella is sweet, if not terribly compelling, and the timeline is helpful. Outtakes and deleted scenes are always welcomed by a fan base, but many other authors provide those on their Web sites for free as a thank you to fans for buying their books in the first place. The schlockiest of all is the interview with (spoiler if you haven't read the series) Tohrment and Wellesie, "conducted before her death." Really? Come on. Put out novellas about your dead characters if you must (Stephenie Meyer, I'm looking at you), but conducting interviews with them after you've killed them is just plain silly.
Diehard fans of the series may enjoy this, but I spent my time cringing at the worst parts and skimming a lot of it. Had I paid money for it, I'd likely be incensed, but as it is, I simply wish I had the time back that I spent reading it.
This review originally published on Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Black_Dagger_Brotherhood_J_R_Ward/content_517324902020
Informative guide to the brotherhood, spanning the first six books. The deleted scenes were nice, and I really enjoyed the interviews by JR with the brothers. It added something extra to the book. I don't think it's necessary to read this one, in order to continue on with the series. It is a nice filler.