Here at Read-Love-Blog sometimes we come across a book, idea, or concept that catches our interest and, even though we may not have the time to review it just yet, we want to share our thoughts with all of you. This is how the new feature “Weighing In” was born! Our very first Weighing In is from blogger/reviewer Stacey and takes a look at music romance anthologies. We hope you enjoy!
Weighing In…Is the Black Dagger Brotherhood Great Again?
Short answer? Yes.
Or should I say Beast-sized answer?
If you plotted out my level of enjoyment with this series you’d see a whole lot of peaks and valleys, but mostly a downward trend since Rhev’s book, Lover Avenged. After that, it was a whole of meh. John Matthew’s book, which I was really looking forward to? Meh. Payne’s book – the only female warrior which I had super high hopes for? Meh. And then Tohr’s book. For me, a total implosion.
Tohr was so devastated when his pregnant shellan, Wellsie, was killed that he just poofed away and was wasting away to nothing. He was wrecked. A shell of himself. His story needed to reach down into my guts, pull them out—grabbing my heart on the way up—stomp on them a bit and then piece it all back together until I was a puddle. I hated this book. It’s one of the few times I’ve wanted to throw a book across the room. I didn’t feel anything between Tohr and this replacement shellan. Epic fail, people.
But I soldiered on, like a good BDB fan, and read Lover at Last, Qhuinn and Blay’s story. More meh. So I stopped reading. I haven’t read The King or The Shadows. But when I heard The Beast was Rhage? I couldn’t resist.
And I’m glad.
Like, really, REALLY glad.
This felt like vintage BDB. Ward even managed to revisit one of my favorite scenes from Rhage & Mary’s original book and make it damn good all over again. I was swooning again. It was all good. So, so good. The trademark J.R. Ward things are there: lots of subplots (some more interesting than others), the banter, the camaraderie in the Brotherhood—all of it.
And I’ve heard good things about the BDB Legacy spinoff series, so I think I’ll read that. And, hell, I’m feeling so good after The Beast, I might as well give the two I skipped a chance as well.
