Review | The Shadows by J.R. Ward

The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13) by J.R. Ward

Published March 31st 2015 by NAL 

Author's Website | Goodreads | Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.

Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice...

What I Thought...

I know it's been a while since I've posted just a regular review, so I thought I'd start 2016 with a review over a J.R. Ward novel. The last novel I reviewed of hers was The Bourbon Kings, which I hated, so when I started this novel in July of last year, it took much longer than what I'd planned to finish it. However, my reaction to The Shadows was MUCH better than what it was to The Bourbon Kings. This material is the type of material I'm used to reading of Wards. It was powerful, it was sexy, and it was worth my time.

Though slow at the beginning, just simply because it had been over six months since I'd read The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12) and my memory was playing catch up, once I delved in I couldn't put the book down! The love story between Trez and Serena isn't told like most romantic stories usually are. Ward picks apart each character down to their bare bones to show the vulnerability found within. It is through this bareness their true passion is brought to light.

The Chosen daughter Serena is a warrior. Battling an fatal illness that has plagued her ancestors for generations, she knows she doesn't have much time before her time is up. However, that doesn't stop her from living her life to the absolute fullest. After pledging to be nothing but honest with Trez and her feelings about life, Serena embarks on a journey of healing, not just for her body, but for her mind and heart as well.

Trez has always been my favorite Shadow brother, so when I realized the main proportion of this book was about him, I could hardly contain my excitement! We are introduced to the Shadow Brothers in the BDB #7, Lover Avenged. Trez and iAm trickle through the series because they are key components of the S’Hsib feud that's brewing. Trez is the "Chosen One" of his people and therefore must marry the S'Hsib princess to complete their mating ritual. Fortunately for Serena, Trez has been running from that position for years and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. He finally gets the girl and wont let anything interfere with their future plans. Trez is different than most of Ward's male characters; he isn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and be romantic and mushy. That is what really set this novel apart for me. 

Usually, Ward focuses on two main characters in her novels, with supporting minor characters to go with. However, here she throws a curve ball; while Trez and Serena are busy trying to fight fate, iAm is trying to fight the ritual that has his brother ensnared. Little does he know, the Princess of the S'Hsib tribe also has a curve ball to throw, and when the two finally collide....its nothing but a hot mess!

The only negative thing that I have to say about this novel, which it really isn't negative but more questionable, was that I hated how Ward ended it. For now, there is no talk of a BDB #14 in the works, which is good, because I don't have any idea how Ward would come back from where she ended this novel. I'm sad, too, because the ending is so real, it sucks everything positive out of the air and just basically ends. However, if this truly is the end of BDB, it was a great way to go out. Overall, I give it a solid 4 stars. If you're a fan of the series, definitely read it! If you've never read the series, start it!

Victoria ♥

Review | The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward
Adult Romance published July28, 2015 
Piatkus
Author's Website | Goodreads | Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:
For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

What I Think....
I'm going to keep this short and simple, because I really don't have much to say. I'll be honest, I hated this novel. I tried my hardest to get into it, but I just couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all. The characters were catty, rude, and downright dirty...and not in the good way. To me, it was like watching a live-action game of Clue, played by some ageing, self-serving jerkwads. It was all about who could be the most conniving; all else be damned. For a novel that was labeled as Romance, I sure didn't see it. I don't want to give any spoilers away, so I'll leave it at that.

From what I gathered from the synopsis, it was supposed to be about Lizzie King, head horticulturist at Easterly Mansion, falling back into love with her long lost lover, Jonathon Tulane Baldwin, heir of the Bradford bourbon company. That couldn't be further than what it really was about. Yes, they do re-connect, in a way. They banter a bit, which makes you think, "okay, this is about to get good", but then it backs off and switches to a different point-of-view. Which is another thing I didn't like; the story is told from eldest Baldwin brother Edward's POV, sister Virginia's (Gin) POV, Lizzie's POV, and Lane's POV. Not only was this extremely confusing, but I felt like it took away from the original purpose. Since so many people were adding to the story, it became very overwhelming to try and keep up. It's great to have good details and added accounts, but this was overkill. 

I do have to give some positive comments though, because I really do love J.R. Ward. She had me with her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I've been a sucker ever since. So I have to tell myself that just because this novel wasn't to my liking doesn't mean I should give up on her. This novel is written in only a true Ward fashion. The details are terrific,the characters are complex and dynamic, and the knowledge about bourbon making and thoroughbred horse racing is out of this world. Combining those components should have made for a great novel. However, it just didn't come together like that for me. I think had Ward focused more on Lizzie and Lane and less on the rest of the polluted household, it would have blown my expectations out of the water. 

Victoria ♥

Paranormal/Urban Romance Review "Lover at Last" by J.R. Ward

Title:  Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher:  Hatchette 
Publication Date: March 28, 2013
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Format:  Hardcover 608 pages  |  Kindle 962 KB

Buy this book on Amazon:  Hardcover  |  Kindle Edition
Author's Website:  http://www.jrward.com/
Author's Goodreads Profile:  J.R. Ward 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another.... 

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand. 

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

My Thoughts...

Honestly, I wasn't going to review this book, but I decided that I need to at least do a mini review since this is a series that I really do like a lot.  That said, this book was a HUGE disappointment to me.  

This has been one of those stories that has been building for literally years now since only one book comes out a year.  The tension between Qhuinn and Blay has been building over time and when they finally get their own book it's totally hijacked by the beginnings of nearly half a dozen new story lines.  That made this book feel like a filler book and that really sucks for Qhuinn and Blay, who are lucky to be bit players in their own book.   

I realize that because of the content that is involved with a m/m love story,  there are some even faithful readers that won't want to give this one a go and maybe that's why she did the story this way.  I gotta be honest, I think J.R. Ward did a good job with the tension between them up to this book.  It was hot and sexy, but when it came right down to it, I wasn't thrilled with how she handled the scenes in this book.  I think that the build up was great, but the actual execution was a big let down.  

Overall, I was disappointed with how she told their story.  I hated that they lied to each other the entire book and I feel like when you have 600+ pages to tell a story, there is NO need to rush the ending.  She totally rushed their ending by dragging out the lies and deception to the end and she did them a great disservice by tying up their "HEA" in a short epilogue.

I am getting to a point where I really dislike the way she writes this series, but I know there are those out there that love it.  I don't like brand dropping and I hate the made up verbs even more!  With every book that comes out I swear that I am not going to read another one because this annoys me so much, but I just can't do it!  I have invested YEARS into this series and I just can't stand not knowing what happens...Plus, I am kinda liking Assail and Xcor and I want to see what happens to them.  

Warning to those of you who prefer clean romance, you aren't going to find that in this series!  There is a fair amount of profanity and the main characters in this particular story are male, so if that's not something you care to read then give this one a pass for sure.  I know that even some fans of this series are passing on this one because of this.  The only problem with passing on it, is the set up for so many future books.  I am  convinced that's why she wrote it this way...