Anyone else loving the Black Dagger Brotherhood?

[amcal]

It's been a long time since I was really, really addicted to a series.

Probably Twilight was the last series I just couldn't put down.

I started reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward and I'm on the 3rd book and still loving them. The characters are fantastic and the stories so unique and interesting. I'm loving them.

Anyone else reading them?

[Marimami]

I just read them all this past week!

[TEAK's Mom]

Tell me more. I'm looking for something wonderful and diverting...

[amcal]

Well, to me, they're fantastic. Completely absorbing. It's the story of The Black Dagger Brotherhood - they are vampire warriors who are defending the vampire race from a group who want to kill them. They're very much a classic good vs. evil story but, in a really fascinating way.

You get each brother's story. They're definitely romance and they do have explicit sex in them so be aware that these are no Twilight books. But, they're also action packed, lots of twists and turns, lots of unexpected events - I can't tell you how many times I was holding my breath reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next. For me, they are so engrossing. The characters are so interesting. There's nothing formula about these books. You know how vampire stories are a dime a dozen these days - well, these books are unique and interesting. I was hooked within minutes of starting the first book.

[crl]

I really liked those as well. Sadly I finished them. JR Ward just started another, vaguely related, series; Covert is the first book.

Catherine

[txgal]

I have read the first and started the second, I really like them too. After all the "fade to black" in Twilight it is nice to read something that doesn't have that.

[east carolina]

Oh. man I want to read these books so bad! I think I might have to give them to myself for Christmas.

[amcal]

Definitely give them to yourself for Christmas!

You know, I think I've figured out what I love about these books - the characters are super flawed. Usually in vampire stories, the vampires are perfect - they're gorgeous, intelligent, rich, perfect..... But, in these books, each brother has had a really rough life, they've survived a lot. And each character has a lot of baggage. It's so fascinating to me to read the back stories on how they came to be who they are at this point in their stories. There's lot of dark secrets, internal demons that drive them.

[Marimami]

I've been thinking about this series a bit more. I think the writing is superior to Twilight. The content is obviously more adult. I definitely preferred it, and at the rate I was reading them--one a day and ordering on my Kindle as soon as I finished one, the series definitely kept me interested!

But, I do think she was a bit formulaic in the storyline. I haven't decided yet if that is a good thing or bad thing. Each book is about one of the Brothers and his True Love. Each Brother has a traumatic history. Each Brother finds healing through their True Love. Each Brother almost loses True Love. All True Loves find a way to live a really, really long time too. Also, it seemed that all True Loves except for Beth were in some kind of social or medical service work.

I am eager to see what happens in the next book, though, so I guess the formula works after all.

Holli

[amcal]

Holi - very true assessment.

You know, I was discussing these with a friend and she didn't think they were as deep as I do. And after reading your thoughts, I wonder if they speak more to me because I'm a social worker and worked in the medical field? I never thought about it before but, after reading your thoughts, maybe I relate more with the characters so that's why I find it so much more interesting? I don't know???

[crl]

I agree that they are formulaic. But I like the formula. I think part of the attraction for me is, as a previous poster pointed out, the male vampires are far from perfect. I actually think the females are rather varied in personality/history/looks, which also appeals to me. Overall I find the main characters pretty likeable, which is a big part of whether or not I like a book.

The true love heals all thing is a bit annoying though, especially if I think about it much. Honestly though, for me these are fast, easy reads that don't require a ton of thought. And that's a good part of the appeal. They are definitely for an adult audience, but not in the orgy-as-distraction-from-lack-of-plot way that Laurell K. Hamilton books are.

Catherine

[bnhmama]

I read them and LOVE them! I agree with Holli that they are very, very formulaic. I'm not crazy about that but I try not to overthink it. Like Catherine, I just like that they are quick, easy reads and extremely interesting.

I think my favorite brothers so far are Rhage, V and Z. I'm loving Qhuinn too!

I have trouble with John Matthew though because I somehow picture him in my head as DJ Qualls circa "Road Trip." Not even remotely tough.

[east carolina]

Okay, I'm getting the first one for Christmas, so I'll pop back in here once I've read to give my 2 cents. Can't wait!!

[katiecat]

I just started this series and love it so far. Is the one that came out last April, Lover Mine, the last one?

[BookGoddess]

I finally found the Black Dagger Series. Yes, I've been under a rock all this time. I've read quite a number of vampire series, but I absolutely love the BDB series the best. A PP post said it best. There's nothing perfect about these vampires. They're so flawed.

Has anyone gone on YouTube and looked up the Black Dagger Brotherhood? There are quite a number of clips of what people think the brothers look like. Unfortunately a lot of the people use famous actors which ruins it for me, but there's one gal who has an amazing upload. Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoQGUvcxmVY
She even went so far to so colorize the eyes right and give Zsadist his scars.
Her other clips about Vishous and Jane are good too. I love Vishous and Zsadist the best.

[katiecat]

The clip is great! Now I have even better pictures in my head. I am in love with this series. I couldn't believe I hadn't discovered it before either since I've read quite a bit of vampire lit. I like this series even better than the Sookie Stackhouse books which is saying a lot. I'm taking my time with the books (am reading other books at the same time, too) and am only just now finishing up the third one, Zsadist (and Bella's) story and so far he is my favourite but I also love Vishous and can't wait to get to his book.

I do agree about the formula for the love stories but there is enough other interesting stories going on at the same time and that carry through each book that keep me really interested. Which is part of what I like - how there are stories carried between the books. One of my complaints is that it seems that once a brother's story is told then we rarely see them or their mate again! I really like Wrath and Rhage and now they and Mary and Beth are hardly in the books anymore. LOL

I was not expecting Wellsie to be killed. Yikes. I was wondering if there are going to be anymore books after Lover Mine. Specifically if there will be a story for Tohr. I didn't think there would be considering he was in a happy "marriage" but now that Wellsie is gone...

[BookGoddess]

Originally Posted by katiecat

The clip is great! Now I have even better pictures in my head. I am in love with this series. I couldn't believe I hadn't discovered it before either since I've read quite a bit of vampire lit. I like this series even better than the Sookie Stackhouse books which is saying a lot.

Hey, me too! I came to BDB from the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Originally Posted by katiecat

I do agree about the formula for the love stories but there is enough other interesting stories going on at the same time and that carry through each book that keep me really interested. Which is part of what I like - how there are stories carried between the books. One of my complaints is that it seems that once a brother's story is told then we rarely see them or their mate again! I really like Wrath and Rhage and now they and Mary and Beth are hardly in the books anymore. LOL

Yep, same here. It's like they drop off the face of the BD world after their story is covered.

Originally Posted by katiecat

I was not expecting Wellsie to be killed. Yikes. I was wondering if there are going to be anymore books after Lover Mine. Specifically if there will be a story for Tohr. I didn't think there would be considering he was in a happy "marriage" but now that Wellsie is gone...

I hope there's a Tohr romance.

One of the things I like about the series is that Ward isn't afraid to kill off characters. In a major war like the one between the vampires and the lessers, there are bound to be casualties among those the Brothers love. I was sad when Wellsie died. She was a strong secondary character.

[katiecat]

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

One of the things I like about the series is that Ward isn't afraid to kill off characters. In a major war like the one between the vampires and the lessers, there are bound to be casualties among those the Brothers love. I was sad when Wellsie died. She was a strong secondary character.

I agree.

I *just* finished Lover Awakened and was crying at the end when Bella tells Zsadist she is pregnant. Very touching.

I've ordered (used) copies of the next two from Amazon - can't wait to get them!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

OK, i read to much of this thread. lol

Im on book two. I am coming off of the sookie books, then twilight, so the sex has me a bit .

So far I like them though. I will have to check out that link of who the brothers look like when i get home.

I think its kinda funny that I keep trying to picture rhage as looking like a young Brad Pitt, and then Mary described brad having NOTHING on Rhage. so ok, guess I was off the mark.

And for some reason, I cant picture Wrath without also picturing him wearing a black mini cowboy hat. Like the ones Brett Michaels likes to wear all the time. Not sure why. . Im awful at pcituring characters in my head.

[jeminijad]

I love Zsadist. I could have read 1000 pages about him alone.

Thanks to this thread, BTW- I ordered all 8 and read them in a week