My Top 10 List

My Top Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Series Picks:

I picked these series based on three things: consistency, re-readability and how memorable the characters and plot lines are. These rankings are flexible and can change over time as I read new series or as new books come out. What do you think of this list, do you agree, disagree? What are your favorites?

#1:

My All Time Favorite:

Kresley Cole – Immortals After Dark

From the imagination we have the Immortals After Dark, a series of 11 books so far. She has a fantastic sense of humor and characters that will stick out in your mind for years to come. The characters are from the mythical work “The Lore”. The Lore is home to Lykae, Valkerie, Witches, Demons, Vampires, and various other mythical creatures.  Each book can be read as a standalone as well as part of the series. I read these books completely out of order and did not feel like I missed anything. Usually every series has at least one “miss”, but for me this is not the case with this series. Even Ms. Coles “miss” is still a solid four moons ranking for me.  Currently, fans of this series are waiting on pins and needles for the next installment “Lothaire” due out in Jan 2012.

#2:

Jeaniene Frost – Night Huntress Series

From the imagination of Jeaniene Frost we have the Night Huntress series which follows Cat and Bones. This is a high octane action Urban Fantasy series, made up primarily of vampires. From the first book you are ensnared in the fast paced action and sarcastic wit of the main characters. The primary characters are Cat and Bones, but there is a recurring supporting cast that is just as memorable as the main characters. This series is also very consistant, I don’t think I ranked any book of this series lower then a 4. J. frost keeps me coming back for more.  We are currently 6 books deep on this series.

#3:

Larissa Ione – Demonica/Lords of Deliverance

From the imagination of Larissa Ione you have the Demonica Series and now the spinoff of the Lords of Deliverance.  Now technically this is two different series but they are set in the same world. The Demonica series is only 5 books long which is not nearly enough, but thankfully we now have the Lords of Deliverance. This world is a part of the underworld that contains Demons, Angels and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Ione creates an in depth world that you will have no problems envisioning. Her reads are incredibly steamy and funny. She has had me laughing so hard that I was crying, but there is still a harder edge to these books that make them darker and grittier. Ione is also very consistent. I have loved every book written and the Demonica series is home of one of my favorite book boyfriends Lore.

Gena Showalter – Lords of the Underworld

From the imagination of Gena Showalter we have the beloved Lords of the Underworld.  The Lords as they are referred to by fans have quite the following. Made up of seriously Alpha immortal males who were punished by the gods to host demons (ex: Wrath, Violence, Death and Pain). The Lords will take up residency in your mind for a long time to come and everyone that reads this series has their favorite male.  Mine is Aeron who hosts Wrath. What is so great about these books besides the yummy Lords is Gena Showalters sense of humor; you can’t help but laugh throughout the books.  This series could almost tie for third place, the only thing that makes this series number four instead of three is I like some of the books more than others, there are a couple of books that are not necessarily “misses” but are not as memorable as the other books.

#5

Nalini Singh – Psy-Changling

From the imagination of Nalini Singh we have the Psy-Changling series which follows the races of the Changlings (animal shape shifting humans) and the Psy (Human Physics) the two groups are naturally at odds. The Psy have conditioned all emotion out of themselves, but some are staring to crack. The Changlings revere emotion and being physical basically everything the Psy have shunned.  This series has quite a bit of tension between the two groups and action. Some things I love about this series is Nalini Singh is one of the few authors that mix up her races. She features characters from every race. Her books are also altra steamy, and the world and characters are very memorable. What has this series is at number five instead of higher up is consistency is the same reason as J.R. Wards BDB, some of the books in this series are not as good as others, but the better books in the series are really good!

#6

J.R. Ward – Black Dagger Brotherhood

From the imagination of J.R. Ward we have the Black Dagger Brotherhood, which is the warrior class of the vampire race. Where vampires are born not made. This series has some serious fanatics for fans, it’s almost scary sometime. LOL. The Brotherhood consists of some of the most memorable characters you will ever come across. The Brothers are much beloved and unique they have their own lingo that you will find yourself trying to mimic, true… Every fan of this series has their favorite and it is not uncommon for fan to fight over their book boyfriend.  The best books of this series you can read over and over again and never tire of it. What ranks this series lower instead of higher is constancy, some of the books of this series really are just not great, but you have to read each book and in order otherwise you will be lost. I am actually still mad about the last release Lover Unleashed which bordered on boring.  I am waiting to see what direction Ward is going to take us with this series.

#7

Stephanie Rowe – SoulFire

From the imagination of Stephanie Rowe we have the SoulFire series which is a whole new wacky world.  This series has such a unique world and characters. At first you are kind of like huh, this is so strange and bizarre but as you continue reading because you can’t stop you utterly fall in love; at least I did. The supernatural character is not your typical species, or at least they have a unique twist. Stephanie Rowe is super funny and is not afraid to write outside the box. For example her warriors were all tortured for 150 years, so they have the tortured thing going for them but they each have a “girly” hobby that they were forced to undertake as part of their training.  Which I guess sounds stupid when I write it but when Stephanie Rowe does it becomes humorous and just a loveable part of the character.  I really want to rank this series higher, but it only has two published books so far, so that’s not really enough to rank higher. As the series moves along I have a feeling it will move up along the list because already I can’t wait for more. The third book in the series is out Jan 2012.

#8

Gena Showalter – Alien Huntress

From the imagination of Gena Showlater we have the Alien Huntress series. It is the future and aliens are now residing alongside humans on earth. There is an elite force that keeps the Alien population in check, the A.I.R., the females agents are especially vicious! This series features Gena Showalters typical humor and will have you laughing throughout.  This series started out a bit rocky, the first few books were ok, but as the series went on the books got better and better. The last two in this series counted among my favorite books of the PNR/UF genre. If this series continues getting better and better it will no doubt climb higher in the ranks, but for now since the first few books were just ok its sticking at number 8. The most recent book came out I believe early September and I’ve already read it three times.  Gena Showalter certainly knows how to write an alpha male and a vicious yet vulnerable female that needs no man to take care of her.

#9

Molly Harper – Jane Jameson

From the imagination of Molly Harper we have the Jane Jameson series.  Jane is a local librarian, or was until she got canned. She was minding her own business getting drunk when she met a very handsome stranger, really he was too good to be true. On her way home her car breaks down and she is mistake as a deer by one of the town rednecks and shot. She wakes up in the handsome stranger’s house with a thirst for blood.  I mean really could her day get any worse? This series is on this list because it is freak’n hilarious! OMG it is so funny. I adore laughing and this series had me rolling. Molly Harper has snarky down to a science, sometimes it can be too much (read a Betsy Queen of the Vampires – MaryJanice Davidson novel and you’ll understand that statement), but Molly Harper never over uses it and it is properly placed. The series follows Jane Jameson as she navigates the world of vampires, but she has a great supporting cast. Each character has a well developed personality unique to that person.  The concept itself is not unique, it’s definitely another vampire series, but it is unique in its humor.  I could re-read any of the books so far and laugh all over again. As far as being memorable, the plot lines themselves aren’t necessarily memorable but the laughing is. If you love to laugh, and enjoy a snark, this is a series for you.

#10

Anya Bast – Dark Magick

From the imagination of Anya Bast we have the Dark Magick series, the Fae were ousted to human and they responded by rounding them all up and putting them in a containment area. The Fae are ready to get out and are rounding up artifacts one by one that will bust down their magickal wall.  These are tales of a darker magick with an edgier feel.  Anya Bast knows how to weave a tale of magick and Fae.  The magick held by the characters are unique and interesting.  You will find youself pulled into this series from the beginning.  The men are powerful and super sexy, I wouldn’t kick any of them out of my bed and the women are usually as powerful as the men, which I always enjoy. I certainly don’t like a whimpering female that counts on the man to always save her, by the end of the book she should be saving herself or at least be able to. I am highly looking forward to the next book out in Feb 2012, there are only three books out so far and one novella, so it’s still a pretty new series. Although I really enjoy this series when the books are out I have not yet re-read any of the books in this series and it’s not as memorable of some of the others on the list.

Honorable Mentions:

Nalini Singh - Guild Hunter

This series has the potential to move up along the ranks and quick as more books come out. There are a few vampires, angels and hunters that I can't wait to see matched up.

Chloe Niell - Chicagoland Vampires

I enjoy this series, but I'm a bit mad at Chloe Niell right now, if you read the series you know why. So I am waiting to see if she is going to make it up to me on the newest release in Novemebr.

Review: J.R. Ward - Lover Unleashed

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 9:

Lover Unleashed: Dr. Manuel Manello M.D. and Payne

Summary:

I actually finished this book several days ago but have help off reviewing it in an attempt to gather my thoughts about how exactly to review it. LOL! This book is supposed to be about Payne and Manny but their story consists of probably less than half of the actual book. There are several other story lines intertwined. This is what I would call a transition book, similar to what Ward did with Phury’s book.

Manny is one of the best surgeons in the United States and happens to be Jane’s (Vishous’s Shellan). So when Wrath brings Payne back to the facility with a broken back (this is at the end of Lover Mine), Jane realizes that she cannot fix it and needs help from Manny. Jane searches for Manny for hours only to find him at her grave site, she convinces him to come back and to operate on Payne. Manny takes one look at the proud warrior woman Payne and vows to fix her! Payne takes one look at her healer and feels a soul deep connection with him and knows if anyone can fix her it would be him. After a “successful” surgery Payne and Manny connect further and she truly regrets having to wipe his memories… Manny is having a bad week every time he tries to remember anything he gets a splitting headache and his work is suffering badly and he is having these intense dreams about a beautiful woman that seems so real. Payne is having a bad week, her surgery was a success but she is still not feeling anything and she is sliding deeper into depression. Payne at her end asks Jane for something to end her suffering. Vishous comes in and convinces Payne for 90 mins before she does anything. In desperation Vishous goes and gets Manny to help Payne. As soon as Manny sees Vishous he knows, just knows that what he is about to hear will alter his life. Vishous removes the veil from Manny’s memories and Manny knows the only reason Vishous would be here is because of Payne and he immediately demands that Vishous take him to her. While with Payne, Manny tries showing her that there can be life in a wheelchair but during the discussion things digress into a make out session where she proceeds to glow and starts being able to move her limbs… As Payne heals herself her and Manny get closer, yet the hope that they could be together gets further away.

In addition to Manny and Payne there is a large portion of the book dedicated to Vishous, Jane and Butch as well as Qhuinn and Layla. You will see an influx of several new characters that also get portions of the novel. (The Band of Bastards and Thomas DelVecchio aka Veck, of the NYPD).

Review:

I have to say I was disappointed with this novel, especially coming off of Lover Mine, which was one of the best of this series, in my lowly opinion.  The first half of the book was kind of boring and not much went on except Vishous losing it, I just kept waiting for something to happen. Payne and Manny were barely even in the first half or so it seemed. The first half concentrated mainly on Vishous and Jane and their marital problems while V was losing his marbles. Ok, now I know that realistically couples have problems, however, I hear my friends and family complain about their marital problems all the time. I really don’t want to read about it to that extent in my romance novel. Then you meet the band of “bastards” which were previously located in the Old Country but have decided to relocate to the New Country and their goals are to kill as many Lessers as they can, overthrow Wrath as king and find and torture the woman that killed Xcor’s father the Bloodletter. I don’t really get the influx of the Bastards. I assume they are going to be the new bad guys that eventually turn good guys, but frankly Xcor is not going to be a character that I will like any time soon. I had kind of hoped that Vishous would have found and killed him by the end of the book for daring to capture his sister, but alas he was still alive by the end of the book. Well there is always hope that he will die in the next one, if I read it. LOL! Maybe Xcor will redeem himself, although I did kind of like his minions Throe and Zypher. And there was a very smexy ménage with Xcor, Throe and the prositute. 

Payne and Manny seem just too easy, neither one of them puts up much of a fight, its love at first site and their biggest obstacle is Vishous, and well the fact that Manny is human, but even that gets resolved fairly easily. I would have liked to have seen Ward explore Paynes abilities more. So I guess Payne can look into the past much like Vishous can look into the future?? But it is only mentioned in passing but never explored. Payne can heal which we do see, but her ability like Vishous to destroy is only mentioned twice. Now, Vishous has his hand that always glows and is a constant worry but Payne can turn it on and off, why is that? Ward does not go deep enough into Payne for me; she is still somewhat of an unknown to me. Even Paynes capture was anti-climatic. Qhuinn shows up several times in this book, and finally admits his feelings towards Blay! Yay! Now if only he would tell Blay.  Now the rest of the brothers and their wives with the exception of Vishous, Butch and Jane are pretty much MIA. They are referred to but not seen much or at all. I've grown quite fond of the brothers, so that they didn't make appearances was kind of sad.

Now, I don’t want to come off like the book is all bad it does have its moments, there is a scene with Vishous and Butch that really pulls you in. It’s really pretty moving. Vishous seems to come to a much better place emotionally after that which you are happy for. He ends up redeeming himself in the readers eye, after being such an a$$ in the first half and him and Jane get to a whole new level in their relationship. There are also some tender moments with Payne and Manny as well as some steamy moments.

Rating:

3 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Mine

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 8:

Lover Mine: John Matthew aka. Tehrror aka. Darius and Xhex

 

Summary:

John Matthew’s life has not been an easy one, seemingly dragged through life rather than living it.  He was born in a bus station bathroom found by a janitor and given to an orphanage where he was always an outsider; he went through several foster homes and finally left at 16 to make his own way. He barely scraps by as a dishwasher living in the worst part of town; an area that only people with nowhere else to go, are.  John had no idea what he was until he met Mary and Bella and was brought into his new life and just when things start looking up the only parents he has known, leave him; one involuntary by death (Wellsie) and Tohrment taking off in his grief.  Xhex is head of security for Rehvenge and sidelines as an assassin; she is hard as nails life has made her that way.  She has been abducted and tortured before now she is abduction number two when the Lesser Lash takes her captive.   John has been in love with Xhex since the moment he saw her as a pre-trans, when Xhex is taken captive he believes her dead but won’t give up his search!  Xhex knows she messed up with John not being able to handle his feeling for her, but thoughts of him are all that is getting her through this torture. 

Review:

John is such an endearing character, maybe because you watch him from the beginning; it’s like watching him grow up.  You really feel for him as one thing after another happens to him but he always survives through it with a certain measure of innocence remaining intact.  Most people would have crumbled and turned hard but John seemed to keep hope and that small amount of innocence, when he loses that your heart breaks for him!  Xhex has never belonged and life has made her hard, but she is drawn to John, she can’t let herself, she has done this once before and because of whom she is it ended badly and she can’t do that to John.  Xhex is my favorite female of the series. She is a warrior at heart and does not let anyone mess with her. You have to respect that.  This book has three story lines running through it which actually transitions well and adds some surprising twists. You will not get bored with this book!  I’ve probably read it 4 times already!

Rating:

5 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Avenged

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 7:

Lover Avenged: Rehvenge aka. The Reverend and Ehlena

 

Summary:

Rehvenge has a life altering secret that he has been living with his whole life. If his secret gets out his very life and the life of another will be drastically altered if not ended completely.   For the last 25 years Rehvenge has been doing what he needs to do to make sure his secret does not get out and blackmail is expensive in more than one way.  Ehlena is a nurse at Havers clinic where Rehvenge often frequents, all the other nurses avoid him drawing straws to see who will attend to him; Ehlena finds Rehvenge as intriguing as she does disturbing.  When Rehvenge asks Ehlena for a date she flat out refuses him, she has a sick father and does not have time for any man let alone a force like Rehvenge.  When concern over his health has Ehlena reconsidering meeting him she finally agrees and finds herself draw to the man. 

Review:

Rehvenge struggle with reconciling his growing feelings for Ehlena and everything he has to do to keep his secret well… a secret.  Rehvenge knows he has to stay away from Ehlena , just who he is , is a danger to her and if she ever found out his secret she will hate him forever and may be put in a dangerous position.  Ehlena feels guilty for even considering a relationship when her life is in such tatters, her father is ill and needs constant care and she doesn’t believe she should even be considering a man.  After Ehlena finds out Rehvenge’s secret and he disappears will she forgive him and go and get her man? Or is she too betrayed to forgive him?

Rating:

5 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Enshrined

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 6:

Lover Enshrined: Phury and Cormia  

Summary:

Phury put himself on the sidelines of life years ago, feeling overwhelming guilt over what happened to his twin brother Zsadist for the first 100 years of his life.  Phury couldn’t start living until his brother did, now that Zsadist has found a mate and some measure of happiness Phury now feels guilt for desiring his own twin brother’s mate.  Phury has offered himself up as the Primale to the Chosen, so now he is to go from celibate to the “stallion” of the Chosen.  Cormia is the first of the Chosen offered up to Phury, she is terrified of this prospect, she has heard such awful things about the act itself and of the Brother Phury.  Phury realizes that Cormia is so terrified and takes her to the Brotherhood Compound so she can get used to him. Never having lived on the “other side” Cormia is overwhelmed by the new world and slowly she starts getting overwhelmed by her feeling for Phury.  Phury is in agony struggling with his guilt over how his twin turned out (if only he had gotten to him sooner) and his persistent feelings for Bella as well as his new duties as the Primale.  Little by little the Chosen Cormia starts replacing Bella in his vision adding to his conflicting feelings.  Cormia is forced to live on the otherside where everything is different, she doesn’t know what is expected in this new world and is utterly alone and doesn’t feel like she belongs, yet she doesn’t seem to fit in with the other Chosen as well.  She finds herself caring more and more for Phury but she can tell he has lingering feelings towards Bella which is like a knife in the heart.  Can these two work out their struggles and come together or will Phury reject Cormia and the rest of the Chosen?

Review:

You cannot miss this book! So much happens in this book not just with Phury but with all the reoccurring characters.  Someone beloved may even return causing an uproar!  If you miss this book you will be lost for the following books. It is a hotbed of action and you won’t be able to put it down!

Rating:

4 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Unbound

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 5:

Lover Unbound: Vishous and Jane

 

Summary:

Vishous is probably the most complicated of the Brothers cursed/blessed with a glowing hand, visions of the future (he knows the what not the when) and can read minds with disturbing clarity at least he could up until recently when his visions and mind reading abilities just left him leaving him oddly shaken.  Jane is a talented surgeon who longs to run her own shop not just the ER.  The death of her little sister when she was young strongly affected her as an adult and her career path.  Vishous meets Jane when he is shot and taken to a human hospital; Jane is the surgeon who saved his life.  When the Brothers come to get Vishous back they take Jane with them to make sure he heals properly.

Review:

To be honest I was kind of disappointed with this book, it was still a good book don’t get me wrong. I flew right through it and was entertained, but Vishous is one of my favorite Brothers and with his abilities I felt like this book could have gone in so many different intriguing directions.  You do find out about Vishous’s past and his surprising lineage which will have your raising your eyebrows in shock!  Jane as a character kind of left me flat, she didn’t seem to have much character development but she is still worthy of my Vishous.  Overall the book was good, concentrating a lot on the past but I felt like it could have been better, I was left wanting more of Vishous. Let me know what you think of this book. Do you agree? Disagree?

Rating:

3 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Revealed

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 4:

Lover Revealed: Butch aka. Dhestroyer and Marrisa  

 

Summary:

Butch has always been an outside observer of life; never truly fitting in anywhere.  He is a human living among vampires because he knows too much.  His own family wants nothing to do with him, he was kicked off the police force and his best and only friends are vampires from the Brotherhood who won’t let him fight alongside them. He knows his life is crap but yet he still yearns for Marrisa a vampire of the aristocratic class and too good for him!  Marrisa feels that she is defective, why else does no man want her; why else would she be shunned from her own class of vampires. Even her own brother has had it with her.  Butch wants two things: 1. To belong somewhere 2. To be good enough for Marrisa.  But as long as he is human he doesn’t see how either of those things would be possible. 

Review:

More than anything you can feel Butch’s desire to be good for the one woman he could ever love, his life has been shit and you can defiantly feel for him.  Who hasn’t wanted someone they felt was just out of their reach but can’t help themselves anyway?  His struggle with his inner demons and desire to belong somewhere is completely believable and relatable.  Marissa is a beauty beyond comparison but feels completely inadequate.  What women hasn’t felt this way once or twice on the outside you may look perfect but on the inside you struggle with self esteem and feelings of inadequacy?  Her loneliness is haunting but through the book she learns a lot about herself and what she is capable of... By the end of the book you have a whole new woman, she struggles to get there but you are rooting for her the whole way through her journey to a strong beautiful woman!

Rating:

4 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Awakened

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 3:

Lover Awakened: Zsadist and Bella

Summary:

Zsadist is a scared soul with a scared body and face to match, stolen as a baby he ends up being bound as a blood slave, tortured in every way imaginable for 100 years!  After 100 years of torture Zsadist has little hope that he will ever find any measure of happiness and his twin Phury is starting to feel the same way.  He is a loose canyon that the Brothers live in constant fear that one day soon he may do something unforgivable.  Bella is a female vampire who is taken captive by a Lesser. When Zsadist finds her, he brings her back to the Brotherhood compound.  Bella see’s something in Zsadist that no one else, including Zsadist sees.  She relentlessly pursues him, which concerns the hell out of the Brotherhood, Zsadist and especially Phury who has of all things developed feelings for Bella.

Review:

I love how Zsadist character is written; he is one of my favorite male leads in this genre! You can sense where his mind is, from his struggle to deal with the torture he experienced to his feelings for Bella.  When Bella is taken, Zsadist is out of his head with worry and rage only a single goal in mind - to find her and get her back! Bella has so much compassion and patience with Zsadist even as he pushes her away again and again; she just knows he’s the one for her.  There is a scene in this book that could quite possibly be my favorite scene of ALL time of all books, in all genres. Twins connected by blood and a new found love for the same woman, this is a love triangle that will have you turning the page all night!  

Rating:

5 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Lover Eternal

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 2:

Lover Eternal: Rhage aka. Hollywood and Mary

Summary:

Rhage is quite possibly the most beautiful man (hence the nickname Hollywood) you have ever seen, and the most deadly!  Of all the Brothers he is the biggest, strongest and the best fighter they have not including trump card he has in his back pocket.  Rhage you see is cursed, not just with glamorous good looks, but literally cursed! A little over a hundred years ago the Scribe Virgin cursed Rhage with the Beast which is a part of him.  Mary is a human and a fragile one at that. Mary gets mixed up in this whole world when she meets John Mathew who is a pre-trans vampire (that means he has not gone through the transition into full vampire state yet) and he comes by her house. Mary’s neighbor Bella, who Mary does not know is a vampire, sees John and realizes he is a vampire and contacts the Brotherhood.  Rhage sees Mary at the Brotherhood complex and decides he has to have her!

Review:

The struggles in this book will tug on your heart strings! I actually cried in this book I felt it so much, which I think is the ultimate compliment to an author.  You really feel these characters deeply.  These two have such intense inner struggles; Rhage in trying to control his inner beast truly coming to terms with who he is and Mary for her very life! You hope that these two can make it work but the odds against them may be too much! 

Rating:

5 moons out of 5

J.R. Ward - Dark Lover

Black Dagger Brotherhood:

Book 1:

Dark Lover: Wrath (King of the Vampires aka. The Blind King) and Beth

Summary:

Wrath is the reluctant King of the Vampires, for 300 years he has refused to ascend to the throne but instead fight in the never ending war against the Lessers.  Beth is the daughter of Darius one of the Brothers; although she has never met her father and was raised human. Darius asks Wrath as the most pure blooded vampire in existence to help his daughter through her transition to vampire, Wrath refuses.  When Darius is killed in a car bombing, Wrath decides to honor his last wish…

Review:

This book is a great beginning to the brotherhood, you meet all the brothers and get all the needed background to carry you through the series and it hooks you right off the bat! Wrath is a conflicted character; he doesn’t want to be king as he is a warrior at heart and knows he is needed in the front lines. Too many of the race is dying! He also feels like he is not worthy of the crown and his birth should not automatically mean that he be the one to rule. He wants a choice. Beth doesn’t even know that she is part vampire let alone who her father is. She is beyond disbelief when she does find out; I mean can you blame her? But she is sure of one thing… Her attraction to Wrath the giant warrior who shows up on her doorstep.  The attraction is sizzling from the moment these two meet. It’s pretty hot! I wish my love life was as steamy! Be warned.. You won’t be able to put this book down once you start!

Rating:

5 moons out of 5

JR Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood

Black Dagger Brotherhood

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series follows a group of fierce vampire warriors whose sole duty is to protect their dying race.  The series as a whole is highly addictive! Once you start reading you will not put down the series until you are done and anticipating the next book to come out like I am doing now!

The basic concept is that Vampires were created by the Scribe Virgin who is obsessed with creation.  Vampires exist next to humans but have very little interaction with them,  not even for feeding. For blood purposes Male and Female Vampires feed off of each other. The Omega the Scribe Virgins counterpart is jealous that she can create a whole new species and so he creates a fraction called “Lessers” who are turned humans that hunt the Vampires into extinction.  The Brotherhood and the Lessers have been battling for centuries and now the Vampire race is dwindling, so it’s more important than ever for the Brothers to win!

Throughout the books there are fierce battles all while wooing their women.  What I like about these books is they are mostly from the Brothers’ perspective; in a majority of romance novels they are mostly from the woman character’s perspective with glimpses into the male character’s. Since these books are from the male character’s point of view you almost feel like a voyeur into the male mind. Each male is as flawed as he is strong and each find a woman as their perfect counterpart. The brothers have their own lingo and slang and I find myself wanting to mimic it, I want to be cool like them.  The Brothers are complete badasses! 

The only thing with this series that could be an issue is they are all intertwined which on one hand I love, but on the other hand it is hard to skip around. You kind of have to start at the beginning and go from there. I tried skipping one book and it did not work out, too much had happened in the previous book and I was lost so I had to go back and read the book I missed.

Book 1:

Dark Lover - Wrath (King of the Vampires aka. The Blind King) and Beth

Wrath is the reluctant King of the Vampires, for 300 years he has refused to ascend to the throne but instead fight in the never ending war against the Lessers.  Beth is the daughter of Darius one of the Brothers; although she has never met her father and was raised human. Darius asks Wrath as the most pure blooded vampire in existence to help his daughter through her transition to vampire, Wrath refuses.  When Darius is killed in a car bombing, Wrath decides to honor his last wish…

This book is a great beginning to the brotherhood, you meet all the brothers and get all the needed background to carry you through the series and it hooks you right off the bat! Wrath is a conflicted character; he doesn’t want to be king as he is a warrior at heart and knows he is needed in the front lines. Too many of the race is dying! He also feels like he is not worthy of the crown and his birth should not automatically mean that he be the one to rule. He wants a choice. Beth doesn’t even know that she is part vampire let alone who her father is. She is beyond disbelief when she does find out; I mean can you blame her? But she is sure of one thing… Her attraction to Wrath the giant warrior who shows up on her doorstep.  The attraction is sizzling from the moment these two meet. It’s pretty hot! I wish my love life was as steamy! Be warned.. You won’t be able to put this book down once you start!

Book 2:

Lover Eternal - Rhage aka. Hollywood and Mary

Rhage is quite possibly the most beautiful man (hence the nickname Hollywood) you have ever seen, and the most deadly!  Of all the Brothers he is the biggest, strongest and the best fighter they have not including trump card he has in his back pocket.  Rhage you see is cursed, not just with glamorous good looks, but literally cursed! A little over a hundred years ago the Scribe Virgin cursed Rhage with the Beast which is a part of him.  Mary is a human and a fragile one at that. Mary gets mixed up in this whole world when she meets John Mathew who is a pre-trans vampire (that means he has not gone through the transition into full vampire state yet) and he comes by her house. Mary’s neighbor Bella, who Mary does not know is a vampire, sees John and realizes he is a vampire and contacts the Brotherhood.  Rhage sees Mary at the Brotherhood complex and decides he has to have her!

The struggles in this book will tug on your heart strings! I actually cried in this book I felt it so much, which I think is the ultimate compliment to an author.  You really feel these characters deeply.  These two have such intense inner struggles; Rhage in trying to control his inner beast truly coming to terms with who he is and Mary for her very life! You hope that these two can make it work but the odds against them may be too much! 

Book 3:

Lover Awakened – Zsadist and Bella

Zsadist is a scared soul with a scared body and face to match, stolen as a baby he ends up being bound as a blood slave, tortured in every way imaginable for 100 years!  After 100 years of torture Zsadist has little hope that he will ever find any measure of happiness and his twin Phury is starting to feel the same way.  He is a loose canyon that the Brothers live in constant fear that one day soon he may do something unforgivable.  Bella is a female vampire who is taken captive by a Lesser. When Zsadist finds her, he brings her back to the Brotherhood compound.  Bella see’s something in Zsadist that no one else, including Zsadist sees.  She relentlessly pursues him, which concerns the hell out of the Brotherhood, Zsadist and especially Phury who has of all things developed feelings for Bella.

I love how Zsadist character is written! You can sense where his mind is, from his struggle to deal with the torture he experienced to his feelings for Bella.  When Bella is taken, Zsadist is out of his head with worry and rage only a single goal in mind - to find her and get her back! Bella has so much compassion and patience with Zsadist even as he pushes her away again and again; she just knows he’s the one for her.  Twins connected by blood and a new found love for the same woman, this is a love triangle that will have you turning the page all night!  

Book 4:

Lover Revealed - Butch aka. Dhestroyer and Marrisa  

Butch has always been an outside observer of life; never truly fitting in anywhere.  He is a human living among vampires because he knows too much.  His own family wants nothing to do with him, he was kicked off the police force and his best and only friends are vampires from the Brotherhood who won’t let him fight alongside them. He knows his life is crap but yet he still yearns for Marrisa a vampire of the aristocratic class and too good for him!  Marrisa feels that she is defective, why else does no man want her; why else would she be shunned from her own class of vampires. Even her own brother has had it with her.  Butch wants two things: 1. To belong somewhere 2. To be good enough for Marrisa.  But as long as he is human he doesn’t see how either of those things would be possible. 

More than anything you can feel Butch’s desire to be good for the one woman he could ever love, his life has been shit and you can defiantly feel for him.  Who hasn’t wanted someone they felt was just out of their reach but can’t help themselves anyway?  His struggle with his inner demons and desire to belong somewhere is completely believable and relatable.  Marissa is a beauty beyond comparison but feels completely inadequate.  What women hasn’t felt this way once or twice on the outside you may look perfect but on the inside you struggle with self esteem and feelings of inadequacy?  Her loneliness is haunting but through the book she learns a lot about herself and what she is capable of... By the end of the book you have a whole new woman, she struggles to get there but you are rooting for her the whole way through her journey to a strong beautiful woman!

Book 5:

Lover Unbound – Vishous and Jane

Vishous is probably the most complicated of the Brothers cursed/blessed with a glowing hand, visions of the future (he knows the what not the when) and can read minds with disturbing clarity at least he could up until recently when his visions and mind reading abilities just left him leaving him oddly shaken.  Jane is a talented surgeon who longs to run her own shop not just the ER.  The death of her little sister when she was young strongly affected her as an adult and her career path.  Vishous meets Jane when he is shot and taken to a human hospital; Jane is the surgeon who saved his life.  When the Brothers come to get Vishous back they take Jane with them to make sure he heals properly.

To be honest I was kind of disappointed with this book, it was still a good book don’t get me wrong. I flew right through it and was entertained, but Vishous is one of my favorite Brothers and with his abilities I felt like this book could have gone in so many different intriguing directions.  You do find out about Vishous’s past and his surprising lineage which will have your raising your eyebrows in shock!  Jane as a character kind of left me flat, she didn’t seem to have much character development but she is still worthy of my Vishous.  Overall the book was good, concentrating a lot on the past but I felt like it could have been better, I was left wanting more of Vishous. Let me know what you think of this book. Do you agree? Disagree?

Book 6:

Lover Enshrined – Phury and Cormia  

Phury put himself on the sidelines of life years ago, feeling overwhelming guilt over what happened to his twin brother Zsadist for the first 100 years of his life.  Phury couldn’t start living until his brother did, now that Zsadist has found a mate and some measure of happiness Phury now feels guilt for desiring his own twin brother’s mate.  Phury has offered himself up as the Primale to the Chosen, so now he is to go from celibate to the “stallion” of the Chosen.  Cormia is the first of the Chosen offered up to Phury, she is terrified of this prospect, she has heard such awful things about the act itself and of the Brother Phury.  Phury realizes that Cormia is so terrified and takes her to the Brotherhood Compound so she can get used to him. Never having lived on the “other side” Cormia is overwhelmed by the new world and slowly she starts getting overwhelmed by her feeling for Phury.  Phury is in agony struggling with his guilt over how his twin turned out (if only he had gotten to him sooner) and his persistent feelings for Bella as well as his new duties as the Primale.  Little by little the Chosen Cormia starts replacing Bella in his vision adding to his conflicting feelings.  Cormia is forced to live on the otherside where everything is different, she doesn’t know what is expected in this new world and is utterly alone and doesn’t feel like she belongs, yet she doesn’t seem to fit in with the other Chosen as well.  She finds herself caring more and more for Phury but she can tell he has lingering feelings towards Bella which is like a knife in the heart.  Can these two work out their struggles and come together or will Phury reject Cormia and the rest of the Chosen?

You cannot miss this book! So much happens in this book not just with Phury but with all the reoccurring characters.  Someone beloved may even return causing an uproar!  If you miss this book you will be lost for the following books. It is a hotbed of action and you won’t be able to put it down!

Book 7:

Lover Avenged - Rehvenge aka. The Reverend and Ehlena

Rehvenge has a life altering secret that he has been living with his whole life. If his secret gets out his very life and the life of another will be drastically altered if not ended completely.   For the last 25 years Rehvenge has been doing what he needs to do to make sure his secret does not get out and blackmail is expensive in more than one way.  Ehlena is a nurse at Havers clinic where Rehvenge often frequents, all the other nurses avoid him drawing straws to see who will attend to him; Ehlena finds Rehvenge as intriguing as she does disturbing.  When Rehvenge asks Ehlena for a date she flat out refuses him, she has a sick father and does not have time for any man let alone a force like Rehvenge.  When concern over his health has Ehlena reconsidering meeting him she finally agrees and finds herself draw to the man. 

Rehvenge struggle with reconciling his growing feelings for Ehlena and everything he has to do to keep his secret well… a secret.  Rehvenge knows he has to stay away from Ehlena , just who he is , is a danger to her and if she ever found out his secret she will hate him forever and may be put in a dangerous position.  Ehlena feels guilty for even considering a relationship when her life is in such tatters, her father is ill and needs constant care and she doesn’t believe she should even be considering a man.  After Ehlena finds out Rehvenge’s secret and he disappears will she forgive him and go and get her man? Or is she too betrayed to forgive him?

Book 8:

Lover Mine - John Matthew aka. Tehrror aka. Darius and Xhex

John Matthew’s life has not been an easy one, seemingly dragged through life rather than living it.  He was born in a bus station bathroom found by a janitor and given to an orphanage where he was always an outsider; he went through several foster homes and finally left at 16 to make his own way. He barely scraps by as a dishwasher living in the worst part of town; an area that only people with nowhere else to go, are.  John had no idea what he was until he met Mary and Bella and was brought into his new life and just when things start looking up the only parents he has known, leave him; one involuntary by death (Wellsie) and Tohrment taking off in his grief.  Xhex is head of security for Rehvenge and sidelines as an assassin; she is hard as nails life has made her that way.  She has been abducted and tortured before now she is abduction number two when the Lesser Lash takes her captive.   John has been in love with Xhex since the moment he saw her as a pre-trans, when Xhex is taken captive he believes her dead but won’t give up his search!  Xhex knows she messed up with John not being able to handle his feeling for her, but thoughts of him are all that is getting her through this torture. 

John is such an endearing character, maybe because you watch him from the beginning; it’s like watching him grow up.  You really feel for him as one thing after another happens to him but he always survives through it with a certain measure of innocence remaining intact.  Most people would have crumbled and turned hard but John seemed to keep hope and that small amount of innocence, when he loses that your heart breaks for him!  Xhex has never belonged and life has made her hard, but she is drawn to John, she can’t let herself, she has done this once before and because of whom she is it ended badly and she can’t do that to John.  Xhex is my favorite female of the series. She is a warrior at heart and does not let anyone mess with her. You have to respect that.  This book has three story lines running through it which actually transitions well and adds some surprising twists. You will not get bored with this book!  I’ve probably read it 4 times already!

Book 9:

Lover Unleashed – Manny and Payne

Other Brothers and their mates:

Tohrment/Wellsie – Featured in other books

Qhuinn/Blaylock - Featured in other books

Blaylock/Qhuinn - Featured in other books