Vampire Week-- Dark lover by J.R. Ward

The last three books I have read were vampire related, so I figured I would continue the trend. I have a whole backlog of books to finish and tons of vampire books. Lord knows that trend won't die anytime soon.

Dark Lover
By: J.R Ward

Write up:


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

First the bad: the names of these guys are so ridiculous I cringed every time I came across one. Wrath? Tohrment? Rhage? And the worst: Zsadist!? And that is only a few of the brothers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the rest of the names are just as silly. But I guess it is just as bad as some romance novels that name their heroes: Hunter! Wrangler! And all other nonsense.   The second bad: why the gangsta rap? I have no problem with rap or gangsta rap, but I find it hard to believe that thousand year old vampires sit around listening to Biggie and Tupac...maybe that's just me.  I know the point was to make them all badass and exotic, but come on. The thousand year old vampire warrior thing was enough to do it for me.

But saying all that, I actually really liked this book, and was excited to read the rest of the series once I finished. (I got the box set 50% at Barnes and Noble. I figured why not?). This first in the series sets everything up: The Black Dagger Brotherhood is the warrior's sect in vampire society. They spend their life hunting and defending the regular vampire population from a group of vampire hunters called the Lessers. The Lessening Society was created by a supernatural creature called the Omega in order to eradicate all vampires. These guys are created by removing their souls and their hearts and are ageless, and deadly. But they can be killed...as can the vampires. Both groups spend eternity trying to off the other. One of the things I liked reading this many vampire books is how each author makes it their own. Vampires in this world are not created by drinking and sharing blood, they are born as vampires. They are a separate species.  They live, procreate and die like everyone else…though they live for thousands of years. There is a society as well with the royal family at top with lower rank royalty and ministers, and civilian vampires below. At the head of the society though, is the Scribe Virgin who created vampires as her one act of creation. As can be guessed, the Omega and the Scribe are each others opposites and adversaries. So we have the setup. The Brotherhood exists to protect all vampires from the Lessers, and prevent their species from going extinct. They are the soldiers…and all messed up in the head in some way…as can be expected.

Wrath is leader of the brotherhood as well as leader of all of vampire society. He is their last true blood vampire and King, but he has no interest in leading their people, only in leading the Brotherhood and taking vengeance on the Lessers who killed is family. He is an angry and scary person when he meets Beth. Beth is the half-human child of a high ranking vampire prince, Darius. But she has no idea of her heritage, or that vampire exists. But she was about to find out the hard way. Every vampire goes through his/her transition...where they come into their heritage and powers. Like Vampire puberty, only it happens when they all hit around 25.  It is a dangerous change, and many die if they are not strong enough. Many of Darius's previous human children have not made it past their transitions. So Darius asks Wrath to watch over her and makes sure she lives by giving her his blood to add to her strength. This begins the adventure. Beth and Wrath hit it of a little too well, much too both their shock. Beth finds herself in a world she never knew existed and attached to one of the most dangerous members in this world. And Wrath finally finds someone that breaks past the wall he built around himself to keep people out. It was exciting...and hot, pretty darn hot....to read their various “adventures” together. While I felt it was a bit rushed about the end...I still found myself really into their relationship.

These books are not your typical dark romance. They have a dark and gritty edge to them that is not for the squeamish. There is brutality and murder and danger, it is not light and fluffy in any way (except some of the relationship building parts). This book is truly an adult book, and might be a bit much for some romance readers who like lighter fare. I enjoyed every minute of it though, and look forward to reading about the other brothers, who were pretty well fleshed out in this book as well...enough to make you attached to specific ones. The writer does a good job their wetting your appetite for more. I can't wait for Zsadist's story. He is interesting.

Overall grade: A-