Dark Lover: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (Signet Eclipse) [Mass Market Paperback]

I am always on the look out for a good new author and when amazon recommended this book I decided to try it. And I am so glad I did! (Little tip - buy the second book at the same time)

These books are written exceedingly well, the plots are exciting, breathtaking and nervewracking (don't make any plans to do anything else until you have finished the book!!!), the characters well drawn, with many flaws but likeable, both guys and gals, mortals and otherwise and the baddies are mean but not too smart.

This first book in the series gives the reader a good background on who the brotherhood is, what and whom they fight, whom they love, starting with Wrath, their reluctant leader. The descriptions of the characters are so vivid, they jump of the page and one immediately feels a bond with them.

I am often astonished at the versatility of the Vampire novel writer and Ward has a great imagination. I read this book in one sitting (albeit until 3 am in the morning) and can't wait to get my hands on the next installment. I feel the urgent need to find out what happens next and for an author that must be the highest compliment.

I won't get into the story line, check it out for yourself and let me know if you think I have exaggerated. These books are keepers and you will read them again and again.

Dark Lover is the first of J R Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series (followed by "Lover Eternal", "Lover Awakened" and "Lover Revealed" - the last of these will be released in March 07). It's good, but not necessary, to read these books in the right order as it gives you more of a framework for the world that J R Ward has created.

Her "Black Dagger Brotherhood" are a subspecies of vampire that are warriors - they are larger and stronger than your average vampire and spend their time fighting against the vampire slayers (known as "lessers") who are de-souled human beings. The vampires and lessers slug it out on a regular basis but try to avoid all contact with humans - it's like a parallel mini-culture running in Caldwell, New York, where the books are set.

Dark Lover introduces us to the Black Dagger Brotherhood characters. The book focuses on Wrath who is almost blind and is the king of the vampires although he doesn't actually seem to be doing anything with his position - he's just another warrior like the rest of the brothers. The other brothers are Rhage, Vishous, Phury, Tohrment and Zsadist. Yes, terribly cheesy names which really irritated me to start with although I've now got used to them.

Anyway, in Dark Lover, Darius (another member of the Brotherhood who gets killed just a few pages into the book) asks Wrath to take care of his daughter who is approaching her "transition". In J R Ward's vampire world, vampires start off rather weedy and then when they hit about 25 years old they have their transition which requires them to drink the blood of a member of the opposite sex as their bodies change into full vampire mode. Darius's daughter, being half human, is in danger of not surviving her transition; Darius asks Wrath to provide the blood for it as he is the last purebred vampire on the earth so his blood is the best. He refuses but when Darius is killed he realises he has to do this for the sake of the memory of his friend.

And so we meet Beth who's working as a journalist covering the crime beat - she has a semi-friend in homicide Detective Butch O'Neal (who actually pops up in the other Black Dagger Brotherhood books and is a great character). When she initially meets Wrath she is terrified by him - a leather-clad, colossally tall man who is armed to the teeth. But they seem to get along rather well fairly quickly and she finds herself on the run from the police with him, when they think Wrath is responsible. Will she survive her transition and will Wrath face up to his responsibilities within the vampire community?

These books aren't for the fainthearted who don't like reading about swearing, sex and violence. But they're not just saucy romps, there is quite a lot of characterisation as well as an understanding of human nature and an emphasis on honour and shared brotherly commitment. Although excellent in itself, the next two books are even better as J R Ward got into her stride writing them, but this is a very worthy beginning to the series and I recommend it to the not-faint-hearted.

I came across this book by mistake whilst searching amazon for new books. And i have to say, it was the best mistake i have ever made.
Not only does this book tell the story of Beth who is a half breed and Wrath who is King of the Vampires, it also incorporates other characters that seduce the reader into the addictive depths of the world created by J R Ward.
Amazingly this is J R's first book, and it delivers on every level.
Brilliantly written it is hard not to read this book at break neck speed, the pace is fast yet steady and every page is begging to be turned.
I lost sleep because i could not put the book down for wanting to know what happened next.

Beth is a half breed who doesn't know she is about to turn into a vampire and Wrath is a gorgeous, warrior, King vampire who must help her through the transition.
The attraction is instant and steamy and their story is aided by the adhering characters surrounding them.
Thankfully there is another installment of the black dagger brotherhood (i have already ordered my copy from Amazon) and i know there is going to be more as i have become so enthralled with this book i joined the fan club.

I would recmmend this book to anyone who likes a well written, fast paced, page turner. If i could give it a higher star rating, i would.