J.R. Ward The Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels 1-4

Do not waste your money on these books. They are prosaic, cliched and just plain terribly written. The world does not need yet another vampire saga, especially one with as few original characters or ideas as this series. If you are looking for some really original characters with sizzling sex to boot, the Anita Blake series is much, much better. SO sorry I made this purchase.

The first four book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series are exceptional, starting out in the format of traditional romance novels, but set in an engaging and cohesive world that makes the fantastic plausible and gritty. The men and women are well developed characters and their relationships are poignant. As Ward progresses through the series, so too does her writing style, shifting away from a single, central narrative to a complex series of interwoven stories and perspectives. This simultaneously strengthens the series by making the world, the characters, and their development more realistic and entangled, but also hinders new readers when often very pivotal moments in a character's development are in earlier books. This is less an issue in the first four books, but becomes more significant the further in one goes, which is simply a characteristic of richly interwoven narrative series.

My beef with this, and the reason for the three star review is the price. I do not know whether the price is set by the store or by Ms. Ward's publisher, but it is frustrating to think whoever set the price thinks we can't do math. The asking price of $31.99 is three cents higher than if you simply bought these four books separately at their individual asking prices of $7.99. And yes, it's only three cents. But it's the principle of it. Occasionally with boxed sets of paper books you could justify the slightly higher price with the cost of the box itself and some special artwork. But for Kindle, that's just ridiculous.

Loved the first four books of this series. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Each book for a member of the brotherhood was different. It starts out with Wrath and Beth the daughter of one of the brothers. And it ends with Butch and Marissa who does the most growing as a character and changing. She’s this very proper lady who has been stuck in time until she finds herself out of her home. Her way of dressing as well as her way of being changes.
We have Rhage and Mary’s story and though I would have loved to have had Mary turned into one of them it was nice how sue gets to live her life with Rhage until she wants to.
Zhadist and Bella’s story was great. We get to know why he is the way he is and how he starts to change and grow but by bit. In all of those stories we see John and what he’s going through. I can’t wait to see how his change comes about and if he really uses one of the chosen ones or uses someone else.
Highly recommend these books.

I love this vampire/romance/action series. The stories are exciting and there are always a few of them going on in each book, without detracting from the whole. The chapters often switch from main plot to subplots, giving the books depth without making me feel disappointed about the change of focus. Everything going on is engaging and moving one story or another forward.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood has a large cast of wonderful continuing characters throughout the series that are well developed and evolving, whether or not their story is on the front burner in the current book. Nobody becomes uninteresting or stagnant.

This is a different vampire mythology from any I've come across, which sets it apart and makes the discovery of the Black Dagger Brotherhood universe an exciting ride.

I'm getting ready to start the 14th book in the series and haven't been able to tear myself away from them since I started the first book several weeks ago. They're nice and long, sexy as hell, laugh-out-loud funny, moving, heartbreaking, well-written and exciting.

What can I say? This is the best vampire series I have ever read period. Love the authors spin on the traditional vampire folklore and the stories are amazing! The author's witty remarks and accents for the characters makes this series a must read.

Book one Dark Lover
Wrath the Blind Warrior is tasked with taking care of his Brotherhood Brother's Darius daughter when he is suddenly taken out by the Brotherhood's enemy.

Beth can't believe the hulking male that wants to protect her and claims she is something more than she has ever known, even as she starts to experience the things he warns her about and what about their unbelievable attraction? Is He more than he appears to be?

Book 2 Lover Eternal
Rhage is the sexiest looking of the Brothers in the brotherhood and teasingly called Hollywood because of his looks. He was cursed by the Scribe Virgin and the curse strengthens all his appetites and then he meets Mary a frail human just trying to make it in the world without getting sick again. Rhage falls completely in love with Mary but how can their love ever work?

Book 3 Lover Awakened

My favorite so far. Zsadist the most emotionally and physically scarred of the Brothers and socially deficient in every way after surviving horrible cruelty for 100 years is way beyond PTSD . Only one thing has stirred him in the last hundreds of years and that was Bella's kiss but how can a man filled with inner filth ever be good enough for such a beautiful woman?
Bella is kidnapped by the Lessers and barely survives her ordeal now she is dealing with some PTSD of her own and even though Zsadist keeps sending her on a different direction, she only wants the man that she can have her rescuer.

Book 4 Lover Revealed

Butch O'Neal's life changes when as a human he is accepted into the circle of the Brotherhood after all he has been a great help to them during the day. He has fallen in love with Marissa A high society vampire, he has no business even looking at. Marissa is attracted to the human but she has been unwanted by many for centuries. Can she really attract a make such as him? Can she deal with the class change and the consequences? Will she be shunned? Will Butch survive the brutal attack by the Lessers? Can the brotherhood help him or ever accept him? Read on this series is amazing!

I read the first two of these books years ago and remembered them fondly so I figured I'd start over. The problem here is that my tastes have changed dramatically in the last few years. While I used to really enjoy these paranormal bodice rippers, they just don't do it for me anymore.

Maybe I shouldn't have tried to read these after reading the first two Game of Thrones books and I know they're apples and oranges, but Ward has drawn up her world and her cast of characters and just doesn't wrangle them neatly or efficiently. Once a character's book is over, they pretty much fade into the background or show up as an after thought. This is a waste of good character building.

I also have issues with the whole emo mindset of the main characters as we're going through their stories: "He doesn't want me" is usually paired along with the tortured male's "Oh, poor pitiful me, I'm not good enough for her because of my past or my curse or whatever else I can use to complete the formula."

If you're looking for a fairly interesting series about vampires with a whole lot of steamy sex scenes, this boxed set is for you. If you want a well thought out and animated cast of characters, I'd take a pass on this one.

I checked this out of the Library's E-Book Cloud area, which sent me here. I have been reading NON STOP since I got it, with small breaks to return to the human world. For anyone who is looking for an Edge-Of-The-Seat Roller coaster ride through a different style of Vampire adventure-Romance, *this* is the series for you! Having all 4 books in one spot is a bonus because you can read them back to back.
J.R. Ward is a superstar when it comes to her Brotherhood. Keep it going!

Gonna need lots of kleenex for these 4 stories! I borrowed them from the library but would love to own the hard copies. Several vampire books are almost alike but this one has a unique concept 5hat makes you want to keep reading. Beware this isn't a put it down and come back later book. I absorbed this box set in about 8 days. I'm really looking forward to reading the others to see what happens next.

I do not have enough words for how much I love this series. Each and every story grabs you and keeps you turning the pages. J R Ward takes you in and brings the characters to life. I want to know each character in the books. To laugh and cry with each of them.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a series about warrior vampires and their fight to protect their race against an enemy of evil. The books are all connected, but each story continues the battle against their enemy while focusing on a different male and how he meets his female in the process. I like how Ward made the vampire another race just trying to coexist on earth and not crazy human killers. I'd recommend to any paranormal romance fans.

J. R. Ward has done what many authors have attempted - quite successfully. Created a world of intrigue, danger, love, suspense, wrapped in mystical beings we’d all be thrilled to know actually exited outside our world of daylight and mundaneness. Go ahead, fall in love with the Black Dagger Brotherhood and all who occupy their world.

Raw, honest, passionate. Whether true or not, I felt I was getting a glimpse into the inner torment of others. Torment that everyone goes through in relationships. Captivating glimpses into another world - that world as seen through the eyes of not just one person, but the same tableau from different angles. A world where being a bloodsucker is not just acceptable, but even desirable. Excellent escape from the mundane world!

J R Ward has written the ultimate series in the fantasy/paranormal genre. These books are so well written, and each is just an extension of the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. This is my third time reading this series, and I still find something new each time! I can't wait till the next book in the series is published! Dark Shadow is certain to be a hit!

I am Hooked, HOOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's awesome with adventure, intrigue, and wanting to know what happens in all their lives as time goes on. It's great, must buy, rent, beg, borrow, steal, oh no, not steal, just borrow. :)

These four books were wonderful reading. It was hard to put the book down, I found myself thinking of what was happening and needed to finish. Mystery, suspense, intrigue and romance provided a well balanced entertaining read.

My friend first introduced me to a short story and fell in love with it and i said i wish there was more. With a huge grin she said there is and let me borrow Dark Lover. I became glued. There is no "sparkle" vamps in this series. Mixed with a bit of everything I even told my hubby he has to read it. I bought the series again to re read where i left off and finished all 11 in 10 days. I rarely put my kindle down. Can't wait for the next one in March :) I love how J.R. Ward goes into each character and their uniqueness, It doesn't make the series boring.

If you are a fan of paranormal romance, this is great food for the addiction! The first book jumped around with different parts of the story, but sticking with it brought it all together. I can't wait to see where it goes next!

This series is awesome, I just couldn't stop reading. It felt like you were there, like you became part of the story. I say onto the author, very well written Ms. Ward and very well executed. I can't wait until I get to read the next set.

Wonderful surprising series that I am glad I found... and you will too! Not your average Vampire series! Action packed, with great story lines and will keep you up reading instead of sleeping. Steamy love scenes and lol moments.

I returned this for a full refund. This is not what I expected. The book is about vampires and and a love story that is NOT exotic. I couldnt get into the books at all and never could read them. Dont waste your money. I seen this as an author who was infatuated with the twilight series but trying to be exotic about it.