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samie_k3's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe it's because I've never felt much of a connection to Trez and iAm, but this book draaaaaaaaagged for me. And really, I like the parts that were through Rhage's PoV and, Paradise's and even Assail (whom I sincerely dislike) better than the main focus of the book... Though I didn't mind the iAm stuff... Maybe it's just Trez. I didn't connect with him until the last few chapters of the book. Oh well. It's finished, and I'll not let this one sour me for the next in the series. :)
sillylittlefishey's review against another edition
3.0
This took me longer to finish that I thought it would, life getting in the way. I thought it was a decent read, very emotional! But it wasn't my favorite of the series.
mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
If you must know, I couldn’t stop the reading frenzy that hit me from a certain point onwards after I picked up the Black Dagger Brotherhood series from where I left off. So following the culmination of Wrath’s story, The King, I moved onto the 13th book, The Shadows, telling the tale of the brothers iAm and Trez, who live amongst the Brothers.
Shadows are a tribe of vampires who live in seclusion, mostly keeping to themselves. Known as the s’Hisbe, they are ruled and governed by a different set of laws, their state of affairs overseen by their Queen. With a social strata that defines everyone’s place in life in the community, the s’Hisbe views acts of intimacy as sacred, outlawing even acts of self pleasure. Firmly rooted in the knowledge of astrology, s’Hisbe believes that their lives are dictated by the alignment of the stars defining their fates and futures.
As firstborn to his parents, Trez “belongs” to the Queen of s’Hisbe, as the fated mate of her daughter. Trez’s parents had sold him off for a better place in the social circles, and had never looked back. Trez had fought his way out of the imprisoned life he had been subjected to, which had been hard won, and he has no intention of going back. However, the clock continues to tick, signalling the arrival of the day of reckoning, the brief reprieve of time that s’Hisbe’s executioner s’Ex had given him having come to an end.
Trez’s way of dealing with the fate of his life that looms closer than ever is to sleep with any and every woman that comes his way. Though iAm his younger brother, his voice of reason cautions him against it, tries to intervene many a time, Trez does not believe that there would ever come a time when he would willingly give up whoring around. Then comes into his life Selena the Chosen, whose mere presence startles into life something deep inside of him, that yearns to belong and for Selena to belong to him. But alas, Selena’s time on Earth is limited, which means that for both Selena and Trez, time is essentially running out in more ways than one.
What follows is a heart wrenching story of a love that races against time, the ending when it came, one that I hoped would be otherwise. But realistically speaking, I think Ward provided a magnificent story when it came to Trez, iAm, Serena, and Trez’s betrothed, whom we encounter when iAm turns up on s’Hibe’s territory intending to what he always does. Help his brother Trez. In the process, iAm, the brother who had never wanted a woman before in his life, finds the one woman who makes him forget every possible rule by which he has lived his life up till now, as if the stars were in perfect alignment and agreement that the woman in his arms belonged solely to him.
Trez and Selena’s story was heartbreaking. There are no words that would describe the immense pain behind the loss, and the final act of saying goodbye is one that was etched into my mind days after I was done reading. The scene was that powerful. Though I was not that enamored with the Selena and Trez pairing when it initially happened, I came to love them both, perhaps owing to the fact that Ward allows readers to see different sides of their characters in this story.
Even then, to be honest, I was more taken with iAm and the story of how the woman he meets at the s’Hisbe territory changes his life drastically. I found the fact that his lifeling abstinence meant that it was all the more sexier, and more meaningful when iAm decided to give himself to someone, a study of contrasts once again when it came to Trez and himself.
The truth when it came out was not so much of a shock, and I believe most readers would have figured out the same. Nevertheless, the end of an era, ushered in with the final act that required s’Ex was one that was stunning and breathtaking at the same time. If iAm had not been in the picture, I would have wanted for s’Ex to be the “hero” of the story, but alas, that is a story for another time. Which I hope comes soon. A girl can always hope!
The story of Layla the Chosen, pregnant with Qhuinn and her children, and her association with Xcor, my second favorite hero from the series also continues and reaches a turning point, the point which perhaps signals that their story is up next.
Recommended! Ward certainly never disappoints when it comes to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Final Verdict: Delving deep into the psyche of one of the most fascinating and elusive tribes in the Vampire world, Ward takes readers on a journey they would never forget, no matter who triumphs or loses out in the end.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Shadows are a tribe of vampires who live in seclusion, mostly keeping to themselves. Known as the s’Hisbe, they are ruled and governed by a different set of laws, their state of affairs overseen by their Queen. With a social strata that defines everyone’s place in life in the community, the s’Hisbe views acts of intimacy as sacred, outlawing even acts of self pleasure. Firmly rooted in the knowledge of astrology, s’Hisbe believes that their lives are dictated by the alignment of the stars defining their fates and futures.
As firstborn to his parents, Trez “belongs” to the Queen of s’Hisbe, as the fated mate of her daughter. Trez’s parents had sold him off for a better place in the social circles, and had never looked back. Trez had fought his way out of the imprisoned life he had been subjected to, which had been hard won, and he has no intention of going back. However, the clock continues to tick, signalling the arrival of the day of reckoning, the brief reprieve of time that s’Hisbe’s executioner s’Ex had given him having come to an end.
Trez’s way of dealing with the fate of his life that looms closer than ever is to sleep with any and every woman that comes his way. Though iAm his younger brother, his voice of reason cautions him against it, tries to intervene many a time, Trez does not believe that there would ever come a time when he would willingly give up whoring around. Then comes into his life Selena the Chosen, whose mere presence startles into life something deep inside of him, that yearns to belong and for Selena to belong to him. But alas, Selena’s time on Earth is limited, which means that for both Selena and Trez, time is essentially running out in more ways than one.
What follows is a heart wrenching story of a love that races against time, the ending when it came, one that I hoped would be otherwise. But realistically speaking, I think Ward provided a magnificent story when it came to Trez, iAm, Serena, and Trez’s betrothed, whom we encounter when iAm turns up on s’Hibe’s territory intending to what he always does. Help his brother Trez. In the process, iAm, the brother who had never wanted a woman before in his life, finds the one woman who makes him forget every possible rule by which he has lived his life up till now, as if the stars were in perfect alignment and agreement that the woman in his arms belonged solely to him.
Trez and Selena’s story was heartbreaking. There are no words that would describe the immense pain behind the loss, and the final act of saying goodbye is one that was etched into my mind days after I was done reading. The scene was that powerful. Though I was not that enamored with the Selena and Trez pairing when it initially happened, I came to love them both, perhaps owing to the fact that Ward allows readers to see different sides of their characters in this story.
Even then, to be honest, I was more taken with iAm and the story of how the woman he meets at the s’Hisbe territory changes his life drastically. I found the fact that his lifeling abstinence meant that it was all the more sexier, and more meaningful when iAm decided to give himself to someone, a study of contrasts once again when it came to Trez and himself.
The truth when it came out was not so much of a shock, and I believe most readers would have figured out the same. Nevertheless, the end of an era, ushered in with the final act that required s’Ex was one that was stunning and breathtaking at the same time. If iAm had not been in the picture, I would have wanted for s’Ex to be the “hero” of the story, but alas, that is a story for another time. Which I hope comes soon. A girl can always hope!
The story of Layla the Chosen, pregnant with Qhuinn and her children, and her association with Xcor, my second favorite hero from the series also continues and reaches a turning point, the point which perhaps signals that their story is up next.
Recommended! Ward certainly never disappoints when it comes to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Final Verdict: Delving deep into the psyche of one of the most fascinating and elusive tribes in the Vampire world, Ward takes readers on a journey they would never forget, no matter who triumphs or loses out in the end.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
desertlover's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes you don't need to write a review, because you'll NEVER forget how a book made you feel. This was definitely my favorite installment since the early days of the series.
cgastorga's review against another edition
5.0
What just happened?! I am just absolutely gutted for Trez. Why? What is happening? I'm soo torn. I love that iAm found his queen but what. I laughed and cried with this book, still crying actually. I need to devour the next books to find out what happens
This book, soo good.
This book, soo good.
bookishwonderlandco's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited to hear that not only another Brotherhood novel was out, but a novel for the Shadows! They were always mysterious yet cool and I was thrilled to finally get inside their heads.
Trez is wanted back to take his rightful place as king, but he doesn't want to go back, and to make matters worse, he falls for Selena. iAm is stuck trying to find ways out or this marriage and run their day-to-day. Meanwhile the Bastards are getting closer to the Brotherhood, and the Lessening Society isn't relenting.
This book delivered on the romance, action, humor, and thickening plot, but I can't help but feel like it wasn't nearly as strong as any of the previous installments, and worse; not as strong as it could have been. It also tended to drag on here and there, and I think there was maybe just too much going on. In the series there is now the Band of Bastards and the Lessening Society, plus all the mundane problems the Brotherhood faces, and I think it all takes a toll on the rest if the story a bit, and in this one they just didn't work. I also didn't like that Trez had the majority of the book for Selena, but iAm had the last quarter with him and Machen. Also what is going on with some of the side stories in this? I usually just go with the flow, but some of those side stories just did not tie in, or ar least didnt tie in well, like usual. I just feel that this book was missing something the others had, though I can't place it.
Okay, now onto what I did like. The humor, the conflicts, the characters that continue to grow. The book was still another great read, and a great addition, and left me still excited for the next. If you like the Brotherhood series, no matter what, you will like this. The characters are just as amazing as always, and the series is just fun, and this book definitely delivers! A very enjoyable read, even if it didn't meet the bar the previous installments have set. It was great to read from Trez and iAm's perspectives, and I can't wait to see what J.R Ward cooks up in this series next!
Trez is wanted back to take his rightful place as king, but he doesn't want to go back, and to make matters worse, he falls for Selena. iAm is stuck trying to find ways out or this marriage and run their day-to-day. Meanwhile the Bastards are getting closer to the Brotherhood, and the Lessening Society isn't relenting.
This book delivered on the romance, action, humor, and thickening plot, but I can't help but feel like it wasn't nearly as strong as any of the previous installments, and worse; not as strong as it could have been. It also tended to drag on here and there, and I think there was maybe just too much going on. In the series there is now the Band of Bastards and the Lessening Society, plus all the mundane problems the Brotherhood faces, and I think it all takes a toll on the rest if the story a bit, and in this one they just didn't work. I also didn't like that Trez had the majority of the book for Selena, but iAm had the last quarter with him and Machen. Also what is going on with some of the side stories in this? I usually just go with the flow, but some of those side stories just did not tie in, or ar least didnt tie in well, like usual. I just feel that this book was missing something the others had, though I can't place it.
Okay, now onto what I did like. The humor, the conflicts, the characters that continue to grow. The book was still another great read, and a great addition, and left me still excited for the next. If you like the Brotherhood series, no matter what, you will like this. The characters are just as amazing as always, and the series is just fun, and this book definitely delivers! A very enjoyable read, even if it didn't meet the bar the previous installments have set. It was great to read from Trez and iAm's perspectives, and I can't wait to see what J.R Ward cooks up in this series next!
hallen13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
open_bookcase42's review against another edition
3.0
Solid(ish), "I could put it down" read. My males have lost something - I'm not sure - but something's gone. Maybe it's only missing. Missing because she misplaced it, not because it was taken. And by taken I mean too many series "pictures in her head." No tears, really, more of a "was that really necessary?" vibe. And did I really have to suffer through Layla's nonsense? Infuriating, that chosen is, for real. And Assail...please pan out. Still loyal, not hopeful.