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Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: The Black Dagger Brotherhood and the vampires certainly creates a universe that keeps you on the edge. Complex plot weaving and anticipation of future books keeps the reader immersed. It was little disappointing because we did not see other couples so much (like John Matther and Xhex; Zadist and Bella, Rehv and Elena, etc), but she opens up new stories in the process and also she lengthy, but maybe she could have removed some chapters or the narration removed.
Lover At Last is the eleventh book in the long running Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward. The series deals with Vampires and Humans, trying to co-exist and at the same time fight the evils in both species. This book was published in March of 2013.
Wrath is also the Blind King of the Vampire Species apart from being the leader of the Brotherhood and he is mated to Beth Randall. The remaining Brotherhood are – Rhage (shellan Mary Luce), Tohrment “Tohr” (Official leader of the Brotherhood since Wrath ascended the throne, shellan No’One), Vishous “V” (shellan Dr. Jane Whitcomb), Phury (shellan Cormia), Zsadist (Phury’s twin, “Z”, shellan Bella) and Butch O’Neal (Dhestroyer, a human turned vampire and inducted into the Brotherhood as of Book #4, shellan Marissa). Rhev the sympath king living with the brotherhood (shellan Ehlena). Three boys that join them are John Matthew (shellan Xhex), Blaylock and Qhuinn. Payne joins the brotherhood and mates with Dr. Manuel Manello. They work together to destroy the lessers (de-souled human whose sole purpose is to kill the Vampires as a member of Lessening Society) who have been slowly working to exterminate the vampires. So far J. R. Ward has written 23 books in this series before she did a spin-off called Black Dagger Legacy.
We see that Blaylock shacks up with Saxon and Qhuinn makes a pact with Layla when she goes into needing. Although Blaylock has feelings for Qhuinn and Qhuinn hides it better, we see that they converge eventually.
From Lover Mine (#8), we see that Blay after much rejection from Qhuinn forms a relationship with Saxton, Qhuinn’s cousin. While Qhuinn starts a kind of relationship with the Chosen Layla, on the fear of glymera totally discounting him. He just want to be normal and not a gay. Both are going in separate ways.
In Lover Reborn (#10), we see that Layla goes into her needing, and even though Layla and Qhuinn have no feelings for each other, he helps her during the needing and hopes for a family so he can belong to something. They form a pact, of sorts. We also see that Qhuinn becomes as the part of Brotherhood on account that he saves Wrath from Xcor. John and Thor support the same.
Layla’s fascination with Xcor continues even though he is officially enemy of brotherhood, vies for the King and is brutal to look at. It is very confusing for me as well. Guess we need to read their story to make any conclusions.
Like all of her previous books, she closes the main characters of the this story in the last few chapters. She also opens up new stories for new characters, she keeps open-ended story about Assail and Sola; ongoing war with Band of Brothers for Wrath and we don’t see a lot of Xhex or John Mathew in this story ether. We get so many stories in a package, and we are going to more books out of this.
The romances that J. R. Ward spins between the main characters of each book are very romantic and erotic, all spun into one tale. Yet, it bothered me that the characters get attracted to each -other just because they are mated to each other. There are other series’ by Christine Feehan (Dark Series, Leopard Series, Shadow Series, etc.) that follow similar plot. It bothered me there as well, but I read those series. Same goes with this series as well.
The author shows multiple plots within the story and also writes each plot in multiple POVs. This leads to new characters as John and Bella get added to the existing characters. Obviously we will see more future books centering on the new characters also. There is a glossary of all the Terms and Proper Nouns used in the series at the beginning of each book.
J.R. Ward does not thanks to Sue Grafton, the author of the Alphabet series (A series I have to read from E yet.). Sue passed away in 2017 and may be she was cutting back. There is a TV series based on these books in the BDB series by J.R. Ward since 2025 with mixed reviews. This can be watched on Passionflix and Amazon Video with subscription.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood and the vampires certainly creates a universe that keeps you on the edge. Complex plot weaving and anticipation of future books keeps the reader immersed. It was little disappointing because we did not see other couples so much (like John Matther and Xhex; Zadist and Bella, Rehv and Elena, etc), but she opens up new stories in the process and also she lengthy, but maybe she could have removed some chapters or the narration removed.
Spoiler Alerts:
- Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
- On Pg. 383, last line, it should be “..winding..” in the line.
- Plot Reveals:
- Trex likes on of the Chosen, Serena. But he is already promised at birth to his tribe’s princess. More story to come on this, perhaps. Tres and iAm move to the brotherhood to escape his tribe.
- We see that Sola Morte, a human, has fascination towards Assail, a vampire. Will there be a story around then soon.
- Saxton breaks up with Blay. Blay and Qhuinn have a makeup sex in between.
- After Dr. Havers, the doctor of the vampires, does not help her, Payne take upon herself to use her powers to Layla’s young. Qhuinn takes an oath to give his honor to Payne and her next generation till he breathes.
- Qhuinn’s brother Luchas is found at the place Omega holds him, even though they thought his dead along with his parents the year before.
- Qhuinn is inducted into the brotherhood even though he does not have a family name, Wrath changed the requirement for him.
- Iron Mask that Trex am iAm run has two bouncers called Big Rob and Silent Tom.
- Sub Plots:
- We see Fritz Perlmutter as the chief doggen, the chief butler, the this brotherhood from the beginning of the series. We also see Trez “Latimer” and his twin iAm work the Rhevenge as Moors since we were introduced to Rhevenge in Lover Awakened (#3).
- From Lover Revealed (#4): The Omega and The Scribe Virgin as brother and sister, but both work in opposite directions – one kills the vampires, one makes the vampires.
- From Lover Enshrined (#6): We might see a book for Lassiter as he stays with Tohr.
- From Lover Avenged (#7):
- The King makes Rhev as the ruler of the Sympath colony, after he is rescued. We might see more changes in how the Sympath colony works now.
- Wrath truly become blind in this book as opposed to semi-blind he was before. He has a dog, George, assist him in his blindness.
- From Lover Mine (#8): There is a separate story about a haunted mansion who is haunted by a brotherhood. It turns out that he is Murhder. Xhex had dated him at one time and he becomes mad when he knows her truth. Hopefully we will see him in future books.
- From Lover Unleashed (#9):
- Band Of Bastards, led by Xcor, the supposed son of Bloodletter (father of Vishous and Payne). It is formed of Throe, Zypher, Syphon, Blathazar, Syn and Xcor.
- Homicide Detective Jose de la Cruz is the old partner of Butch. He is partnered with Thomas DelVeccho Jr. “Veck” after frequently changing his partners.
- From Lover Reborn (#10): Layla mentions her fascination with Xcor, and that she fed him in the Fall. However she does not known that she was manipulated to it. John, Wrath, Qhuinn, Primale Fury and Xhex, all help her understand that and that she will help brotherhood no matter her feelings. However, how can one love the leader of Band of Brothers. That failed me to go to my senses.
Galavant Reflections 