All Together Dead

DARK LOVER: BOOK 1 OF THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD
J.R. WARD
Paranormal Romance
Signet Eclipse
Sensuality Rating: Spicy
ISBN# 0-451-21695-4
$6.99
Print - Available September 2005

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Wrath is the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB), an organization of superhero-type vampires fighting to protect and save their race from the Lessening Society, an order of slayers created by the evil Omega to destroy all vampires. Wrath also happens to be the king of the vampires, though that is a position he is not quite ready for.

Beth is half human and completely unaware of her vampire heritage, having grown up in a series of foster homes and an orphanage. As an aspiring journalist, she is trying to settle into her seemingly uneventful life, while wishing for more adventure and to experience love, never anticipating what is to come.

When Darius, a member of the BDB asks Wrath to assist his daughter, Beth, with her transition into a vampire, he flat-out refuses. But, when later that same evening, Darius is murdered by a lesser, Wrath feels obligated to take responsibility for Beth, never suspecting the attraction they would feel for each other, nor the fight they would have on their hands as they tried to find the ones responsible for Darius’ death.

As I picked this book up to read, I was dreading that it would not live up to all the hype I had heard about this series. Many hours later, when I finally put it down, my first conscious thought was “WOW”! Man-oh-man, this was above and beyond any expectations I had.

From the very beginning J.R. Ward drags you in, and you cannot help but immerse yourself into the universe of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. The emotional intensity of this book had my stomach in knots. Humor, dread, sadness, longing, excitement and happiness are just a few of the sensations I felt as I continuously turned the pages. I have always been a sucker for the torched hero - Ms. Ward absolutely delivered, and while not so eye-rolling-ly inundated in self-pity, Wrath and his brothers fit well into this role.

I anticipate the gut-wrenching emotions to continue on with the rest of the series, which I just so happen to have the next four books sitting on the very top of my To Be Read pile. I know that this is a series that I will revisit often, and will probably have to tape the covers back on and re-glue in the pages, from overuse. Which is highest form of praise from a reader who NEVER cracks the spine.

Aemelia
Enchanting Reviews
January 2008