Kelli Rae

J.R. Ward's paranormal BlackDagger Brotherhood series is good, but much more graphic in language and sex, and exposure to a seedier and violent side of life. The whole concept of the vampires is different than any others, also. The vampires are good, they don't prey on humans, and they were created by the scribe virgin, who is kind of like their goddess and she is keeper of the vampire archives. The vampires are alive, but they are a different race than humans. They must feed from a vampire of the opposite gender, although they don't have to everyday. They can feed on humans, but cannot survive long on their blood because it is too weak. They have a few very special vampire warriors known as the Brotherhood who are trying to protect their race from extinction. Each Brother has his own book, plus there are many side characters who are very important who will have their stories told.

The vampire race is under attack by the lessoning society, who are undead humans (who were bad while alive) that the evil omega has tricked into turning to his cause. They slowly lose all color, becoming pale with very light hair and eyes, and they smell like baby powder. Their only goal is to hunt & attack the vampires and try to make them extinct. They have no choice once they become a lesser, because they are then controlled by the omega and his top lessers. Something happened between the scribe virgin and the omega that began this war long ago, although that hasn't ever been revealed.

It's basically a good vs. evil story, and if you can handle the graphic language, sex, violence, and some drugs, you may like the books. The underlying stories are always good...but I would call these books paranormal erotic romance. There is always a happily ever-after ending and that does make them romance books, but they are definitely written with an edge. They are not humourous like our Argeneaus, but they are an entirely different type of romance novel, even if both are in the paranormal romance category.

To understand the BDB books, you must read them in order if you can. The books don't just build on one another, but the plotlines are interwoven throughout each. Characters are introduced and plotlines develop that would be hard to understand if read out of order. If you didn't have the background, some characters' stories may seem confusing, cruel, or unreasonable in the bounds of what to believe. The first in the series is Dark Lover, and it is the story of Wrath ~ the vampires' blind king and Beth. It sets the foundation for the other books.

J.R. Ward has a website so you can read the excerpts and see the books. The books in reading order are:

Dark Lover ~ Wrath & Beth
Lover Eternal ~ Rhage & Mary
Lover Awakened ~ Zsadist & Bella
Lover Revealed ~ Butch & Marissa
Lover Unbound ~ Vishous & Jane
Lover Enshrined ~ Phury & Cormia (released in June)

Phury's & Cormia's book comes out in June, but will not make as much sense if you haven't read the previous books. All of the books are available in my small local bookstore, so they are not hard to find. They also have one copy of each in my local library.

hth, wrennie

P.S. I have read all the books so far, and will give Phury's a chance. If I don't like the direction it is going, as they are so hardcore, I will simply drop the series. I did at one time, because I don't care for the offensive language and some of the graphic scenes, but I want to see what direction Ward takes the series with this book. This next book is pivotal in the way the series is moving. Also, I understand that the books are written this way because of the good vs. evil concept. I just have to decide if it's within my reading choices.

I do not like the forum on Ward's website. I read the exerpts and information, but I don't go on the forum unless someone tells me about something specific on it and I do not post ever. They have very strict rules on the forum, so it isn't that. I just don't care for it. It is not warm and cozy like our forum so I stay away!

Wrennnnnnnnieeeeeeeeeeeee hehe:)
I understand not liking some forums. I visit Bertrice Small's forum and she's kinda cranky to her readers sometimes (she's well an older lady...not into laughing much i guess)but expects us to walk on egg shells... I hate to be rude but I don't know. When I first started visiting I was 19 and I like to joke and make people laugh and some people were like "Oh Kel, I know you are young and immature BUT" and I'm thinking well you are rather immature for pointing that out but I decided to be classy and apologize and just sometimes say "nice" "politically correct" non fun things haha.

I want to check out JR Wards and LA Banks books so thanks for giving me an insight.

Kel

Wren I had looked up this series when you guys were talking about it before. they sound interesting and I will have to keep an eye out for them.

Heehee glad we got you hooked back on the books W2. For anyone else absolutely love that series. I like the different take on the vampires.

I like the different take on the vampires, but I don't like the graphic language and some of the hardcore scenes. Also, some of her fans are wondering if J.R. Ward is moving more into urban fantasy than paranormal romance. I don't really see that happening...it's just that there are so many plotlines going on in each book as the series continues that it may seem a bit confusing at times. However, Ms. Ward does still bring her hero and heroine together through their trials and gets to the happy ending part, so I don't think the books are losing their romance side, even if some things are left unresolved for the next book.

wren(In my not so humble opinion...heeheehee)

Hey Kelly,
I just got back from RT last week. **My first one** I still cant believe that I went. OMG .
And I have to tell you that Beatrice Small is very nice, but she is kind of old. She even waved to my cousin via pic mail. lol.
JR Ward is such a peach, boy does she get into her stories. She was one of my favorites that I met.
She had a chat with MJD and Christine Feehan. It was too fun to watch them answer questions and banter back and forth.
Now Here is the kicker......... I had dinner with LA Banks. She is such a sweetie. We had a great time. I have never read her books but I liked her so much that I bought one to read and have her sign.
I had the best time. All the writers were so nice.
MJ Davidson, Michele Bardsley and Dakota Cassidy are CRAZY fun. Still so excited to have gone. As for Books that I am waiting for....
And of course I cant wait for the first Rogue Hunter Book!!

Wren as for the last book JR said that she is kicking herself for not putting in the 10 pages that she wanted to. She felt that looking back and with all the imput she has recieved that she screwed up.

Well I have rambled on long engoug..

Linda you are so lucky (TOTAL ENVY GLAD YOU CAN'T SEE HOW GREEN I AM)

All I have to say is June 3rd can't come quick enough or Sept 30th for that matter.

hey linda, you rock,

I have read Michele Bardsley books and lets just say OMG!!! awesome reads, hilarious,laugh out loud, great romance and drama. I have also read MaryJanice Davidson, wow, you are lucky.
If you get a chance pick up Micheles books, I don't think you will regret it, especially if you like Lynsays books.

Ohhh I have read Micheles Vamp books she is a hoot.
She is sweet. I have known her for a few years now.
She is crazy fun, It was the first time I got to hang out with her in person. You know she has two new Broken Heart vamp books coming out.

Linda you are so lucky to know her.
the 3rd book comes out on Tuesday. I am going to get it after work, I am so excited.

I imagine her to be similiar to "jessica" in the 1st book. I love her website too.

She has a yahoo group.

I can not wait for Phury's book woohoo AND Laurell K HAmilton's next book "Blood Noir" comes out in a few days WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! those are the two i am nost looking forward to getting!! "The Halriquin" just came out in paper back the days before yesturday which i have to get too it has the first couple of chapters of "Blood Noir" in to dso i gots to get it and read it so i am all set for it YEAH!!!!!!!

Linda
not to worry though, JR Ward had a part from WRATH's book DARK LOVER that she didn't know if it went to far or not, so she kept it out and put in onto the website....maybe she will do that with the 10 pags she kept out of this book!! She has let on that this is the longest of all the books so far....I CAN'T WAIT!...


I started reading them by mistake, I was waiting for TAV come out and grabbed smething at random of my mother's shelf while I was at he place one night, and I was hooked!, butits a different kind of hooked, not like lynsay 's books ts hard to explain!

G3

ps--> I am with you ACHERON!! I can't wait until he is finally revieled, I think S.K. said he is going to have a 2 books to tell his story.

I just finished reading Devil May Cry, I think this one is my favorite so far it had so much information in it. I can't wait until Acheron's book comes out! I am now reading Dream Chaser it is a Dream-Hunter book about Xypher who was in Devil May Cry. After I am done with this book I am going to start Keri Arthur's newest The Darkest Kiss which I found at the grocery store of all places, it is where I found the first book of this series but they haven't had any of the others there or anywhere else. I had gotten a friend to pick up the rest for me and mail them so I was really excited to find this one!

Gena, It is not hard to explain at all. lol
I feel the same way I look forward to Lynsays Argeneau's more than any other book. There is no TBR pile where they are concerned. Even if I am in the middle of a book when one **or three** . I will just put it down till I am done. They are my fav series.

Total agreement on Lynsay's books, Linda!

wren