Dark Lover: Number 1 in series

J. R. Ward

Feb 2011 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

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

The only pure-bred vampire left on the planet, 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 - orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead...

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both...

Ratings and reviews

This book is one of the best reads I have had in a very long time. In all honesty I wasn't to sure I would like this book as I had read an earlier book of hers many moons ago, but I was so very glad I did and now I cannot recommend this series enough if you want a great read in a new world with strong, damaged worrriors and just as strong women, fighting to stay alive in the face of Evil. I just loved this book.

Dark Lover is the first of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R.Ward. The Black Dagger Brotherhood, are the elite of the vampire world in Caldwell, New York. Wrath, Darius, Rhage, Phury, Zsadist, Vishous, and Tohrment (yes, the names are a bit gimmicky) are dedicated to defending civilian vampires from an organisation of de-souled humans, the lessers, who are intent on slaying all vampires. When Darius is murdered, he leaves behind a half-human daughter, journalist Beth Randall, who is unaware of her parentage, her heritage and the fact that she is soon due to transform into a vampire herself. Much as he would like to avoid any involvement with her, Wrath has promised to look after her, but once he meets her, he finds his priorities changing. Add to the mix a human cop who is half in love with Beth, a female vampire who has been Wrath’s blood source for years and a vampire doctor who is trying to find an artificial blood source, and you have an interesting situation. In this different, modern take on vampires, Ward has created an alternate world on which to base her series. Part Mills & Boon, part paranormal/fantasy, this novel has enough plot and character to make it strangely compelling. While the males are, in places, a bit stereotypical, there’s a nice camaraderie between them and the heroine is a strong character; there’s plenty of romance and a few hot sex scenes. This paranormal romance tells Wrath’s story. A further seven books in the series concentrate on the other Brotherhood members, and I look forward to reading each one. This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Little, Brown Group

This book was one of the worst books ive read in a long time, I did like the start of the book though. I felt like J.R Ward rushed the love and romance and she could of took her time with it, I also didnt like how they swapped characters alot and tried to make the book funny and humours when it really wasnt, i did like wrath alot but beth (elisabeth) was annoying alot of the time. Overall this book is not the book I would read again but I did read the whole book and neber skipped anything

About the author

After graduating from law school J.R. Ward began working in health care in Boston and spent many years as chief of staff for one of the premier academic medical centres in the US. She lives in Kentucky with her husband.