Melodramatic Fun

I had a ridiculous amount of fun with this book. It is packed with cliches, melodrama, insta-love, and sometimes ridiculous dialogue. But that didn't mean it wasn't a ton of fun to listen to.

From the very beginning, I knew this book would be over-the-top and way too serious for its own good. All you need to do are look at and listen to the names of the Brotherhood. Most of them are a little two-dimensional, a problem that affects most of the characters. As a character, Beth is a little unbalanced at times. Wrath and Butch are overbearing alpha males. It took a long, long time for me to soften toward them.

The plot does have some stakes and the world has its complexities, but most of the twists were things I could have seen coming from a mile away. The villains were just as over-the-top and thin as the heroes. Most of what I enjoyed honestly came from the Brothers interacting with Wrath, even though Wrath was being far too aggressive for most of the book.

As for the romance, it did have some hot moments and most of the descriptions were sensual, but some were weird. The prose itself was fine for urban fantasy and stuck true to the internal thought of the characters, though there were a few moments where I caught myself giggling. Rhage and the stables, anyone?

Honestly though, I rated this book so high because it did what it was supposed to do: Give me a good time. For all the flaws and nitpicks I listed, I absolutely understand why this series is so popular. It's melodramatic, curse-filled, testosterone-rampant fun. If you don't take it seriously and just allow yourself to read/listen to an adventure filled with sexy vampires, you are going to have a good time. And sometimes that's all you need.

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Great Read

I read 6 books from this series it’s a great story line. Would highly recommend if you like paranormal ,erotica, crime genre

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Great Novel made better on Audible

This is one of my very favorite books from a world class author. The only thing that could make it better is #audible1.

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2 people found this helpful

A Must-Read Paranormal Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat Level: 🔥🔥
📚E-BOOK📚 &🎧AUDIO🎧

"Dark Lover" by J.R. Ward, the first book in *The Black Dagger Brotherhood* series, was just as compelling on my second read as it was when I first encountered it in 2012. With the exciting news that this beloved series is being adapted for TV, I felt motivated to revisit the Brotherhood and immerse myself once again in their dark, complex world.

12 years ago, I rated this book 4 stars, and even now, my opinion hasn’t changed. In comparison to other Paranormal Romances I've read, "Dark Lover" provided a bit more to keep me hooked. J.R. Ward weaves together multiple POVs, giving readers a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations. We have a cult of vampire slayers determined to annihilate the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a reluctant Vampire King, Wrath, burdened by his lineage and responsibilities, and a string of murders that adds a thrilling layer of suspense.

What makes this book stand out is the array of intriguing side characters who all beg for their own stories to be told. As the first book in a series that's now over 20 books long, "Dark Lover" perfectly sets the stage but leaves you craving more—more of the brothers, more of the King, more of everything. This second read has only fueled my desire to continue with the series and explore the rich world Ward has created.

The story of Wrath and Beth Randall is an intense mix of dark fantasy and slow-burning romance, making it a solid start to what promises to be an epic saga. I’m eager to see how this tale of power, love, and vengeance translates to the screen, and I can’t wait to dive back into the rest of the series.

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a lot going on.

the story is fast-paced and quick it doesn't slow at any point and it's a lot I found parts of it a little hard to follow because it changes perspective so frequently without warning however it is a good book it's a fun time and the world's are quite fascinating I can forgive the pacing and the information dump that seems to be this book. because they were clearly trying to lay the foundation for an entire world.

all-in-all I liked it a lot and I would recommend it to someone who's into vampire stories and secret societies battling in the background.

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love it

it was a great llisten! I can't wait to hear book 2. the reader was very clear and well spoken. was very happy with everything.

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Love J. R. Ward.

Hearing is easier and more enjoyable than reading.

Narrator needs more continuity at chapter breaks. Short pauses at some chapters and long pauses at others. His timing could be better but overall I enjoyed listening to him.

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perfectly read

I have read these books and the narrator does it justice in my opinion

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Great story but voice over meh

The story I did enjoy a lot but the voice over wasn’t really that thrilling. I went from ones like the lady in outlander. Which she sets the bar very high. This was just alright but at lest he got better as the story went on. I was disappointed to see he reads all the books in the series and only hope it continues to get better.

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Amazing Read

didn't struggle to finish this I didn't want to put it down!!! read it

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