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piggy327's review against another edition
5.0
J.R. Ward has done it again. She has blown me away. I cried, I laughed, and cried again. I have always loved Wrath and Beth from the beginning in Dark Lover. They have always been my favorite, and to have their story come full circle was the icing on the cake for me with this series. I love the set up for potential books, the feeling of wanting more but so overjoyed with what was just read. Just the full package.
linyarai's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
samm1470's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lisa_me's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and the return to Wrath and Beth. I especially liked getting into Wrath's head, and his love for Beth.
I even liked all the side stories. They were as important to me as the story of Wrath and Beth. But I can't believe the way some of them were left hanging.
It's going to be a long wait for the next book.
I even liked all the side stories. They were as important to me as the story of Wrath and Beth. But I can't believe the way some of them were left hanging.
It's going to be a long wait for the next book.
cavityfila's review against another edition
3.0
I was disappointed with this book. Not because it was bad, but because all of her other BDB books were so great, that she is held to her own high standard. And this one just didn't meet it. In the last several books, she has been adopting a soap opera style of telling her story, jumping from one character to the next in each consecutive chapter. I am not a fan of this style because I like to be focused on the main characters but in this book she took it so far, I felt it was hard to tell who the main story line was even about. Yes, it was Beth and Wrath, but their story got so diluted with the constant intrusion of so many chapters on Wrath the father/Anha, Trez/Selena, Assail/Sola, Xcor/Layla and even a POV from John Matthew, that it was all over the place and hard to concentrate on the main theme of the book. And as far as Beth and Wrath go, I like them and am happy they got their HEA, but that seems played out to me already. They had their chance in book one, and with plenty of updates in later books. I wasn't as excited about them being the mc's because we already know them and there just isn't that much drama there, no angst, no "will he/ wont he", just a "will he stay king and get over his personal demons" etc. It didn't do it for me.
I liked some of the side plots better than the main plot but there were so many that they didn't have enough meat in them. For instance, I definitely want to see more of the shadows and look forward to seeing Trez and Selena play out, along with whatever happens with iAm. I also liked Assail and Sola this time, even though I found them annoying previously. I am completely uninterested in Xcor and Layla, as I have been from day one of their storyline. But the worst was about Wrath and Anha, Wrath's parents. These segments were downright boring and required significant skimming to get through, which I have never done before in this series. Finally, what I would like to see more of is John Matthew, and him finally figuring out that he has Darius's soul inside him. Ward hints at it here as she has before but I think that will make for an interesting future revelation. And then hopefully we will get Darius's story.
So overall, this book was a letdown for me. Especially after the high of Lover at Last, which I absolutely loved. It was a "meh" way to catch up on your favorite characters, like a "where are they now?" segment that just showed not much has changed.
I liked some of the side plots better than the main plot but there were so many that they didn't have enough meat in them. For instance, I definitely want to see more of the shadows and look forward to seeing Trez and Selena play out, along with whatever happens with iAm. I also liked Assail and Sola this time, even though I found them annoying previously. I am completely uninterested in Xcor and Layla, as I have been from day one of their storyline. But the worst was about Wrath and Anha, Wrath's parents. These segments were downright boring and required significant skimming to get through, which I have never done before in this series. Finally, what I would like to see more of is John Matthew, and him finally figuring out that he has Darius's soul inside him. Ward hints at it here as she has before but I think that will make for an interesting future revelation. And then hopefully we will get Darius's story.
So overall, this book was a letdown for me. Especially after the high of Lover at Last, which I absolutely loved. It was a "meh" way to catch up on your favorite characters, like a "where are they now?" segment that just showed not much has changed.
may09's review against another edition
3.0
I read a review that said this series IS a soap opera , you just keep coming back for more
sillylittlefishey's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! It was a hodgepoge of several different couples, but it was never boring. I was just mad that I couldn't just keep reading, and that I'd have to put it down from time to time for day to day life!!
Loved Lassiter, even though he wasn't in the book much. But what little there was of him, was hilarious!
"Now we know what the zombie apocalypse looks like" (Rehv) had me cracking up the rest of the book! I think it's my favorite quote of this one. True?
Loved Lassiter, even though he wasn't in the book much. But what little there was of him, was hilarious!
"Now we know what the zombie apocalypse looks like" (Rehv) had me cracking up the rest of the book! I think it's my favorite quote of this one. True?
mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
We have come a long way since the beginning of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The King is the 12th novel in this magnificent series of books that JR Ward has written, and it brings us back to where we started, with the characters having taken on the roles that were required of them. We get to take a closer look at Wrath, the King of the Vampire race, who assumed his responsibilities in the debut book of the series, Dark Lover. Wrath is the last pure blooded vampire on the planet, and even though he chafes at the duties of being the King to the race, it is a “prison” from which there is no respite for him.
Wrath’s frustration and dissatisfaction at being “hogtied” to the throne is one that runs deep. Just how deep, realizes Beth, his shellan i.e. mate for life, only after Wrath lets loose when his formidable temper gets the best of him. Known and revered as the Blind King, and for good reason, Wrath has been constantly battling to keep a throne he had never meant to ascend in the first place. But the same genetics that had demanded he be King, had also rendered him unfit to fight in the field alongside with his Brothers. Furthermore, there is no way that the Brothers would let their King back in the field, no matter how much he might want to.
Wrath’s personal life isn’t going exactly in the blissfully wedded direction either. With his mind solidly made up on not fathering any children, the clash with his shellan is not the kind that one can just brush under the carpet, especially with Beth’s needing seemingly on the way. To add to the pressure, The Band of Bastards from the Old Country is out to get Wrath one way or the other, even if they had lost in their initital attempts to assassinate him.
Everything comes to a head at junctures where one just has to plow through the worst to get to the other side. There is always so much going on in a JR Ward book that it is near impossible to just focus on one aspect of the book thinking it would give a holistic view of the book. The storylines concerning other characters that were prominent in Lover at Last continue even in The King, most of them coming to a turning point where things were looking rather gloomy for everyone concerned.
By the time the story was done, except for one aspect of a continuing storyline that has been running for a long time in the books, the one concerning John’s true identity, everything else seems to have worked out. Wrath managed to thwart yet another attempt at dethroning him, and used the opportunity to make that one move which shocked the vampire aristocrats to boot.
I loved how Wrath transformed in this novel, finally, and at last, embracing his role as the King of the race wholeheartedly. There is no running from fate and destiny, especially leaving a role such as that of a King, particularly at a time when the race was in near tatters, clearly at a point where leadership was needed the most.
I also loved how insightful the story of Wrath’s parents proved to be. Unlike what Wrath thought of his father’s reign to be like, the traitors were around him just the same, just as insidious in their bid to dethrone him and take over the reins in their hunger for power. Another character trait Wrath seems to have inherited from his father? That take-charge attitude of his, in bed and out of it.
There was one rather unusual character that piqued my interest in this story; s’Ex, the executioner of the s’Hisbe sect of the vampires. He is a character I want a story for. Pretty please, JR Ward?
Recommended for fans of the series and fans of Wrath!
Final Verdict: With The King, JR Ward brings readers full circle with the characters we fell in love with at the very beginning. Wrath’s story the second time around was just as indomitable as the vampire himself.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Wrath’s frustration and dissatisfaction at being “hogtied” to the throne is one that runs deep. Just how deep, realizes Beth, his shellan i.e. mate for life, only after Wrath lets loose when his formidable temper gets the best of him. Known and revered as the Blind King, and for good reason, Wrath has been constantly battling to keep a throne he had never meant to ascend in the first place. But the same genetics that had demanded he be King, had also rendered him unfit to fight in the field alongside with his Brothers. Furthermore, there is no way that the Brothers would let their King back in the field, no matter how much he might want to.
Wrath’s personal life isn’t going exactly in the blissfully wedded direction either. With his mind solidly made up on not fathering any children, the clash with his shellan is not the kind that one can just brush under the carpet, especially with Beth’s needing seemingly on the way. To add to the pressure, The Band of Bastards from the Old Country is out to get Wrath one way or the other, even if they had lost in their initital attempts to assassinate him.
Everything comes to a head at junctures where one just has to plow through the worst to get to the other side. There is always so much going on in a JR Ward book that it is near impossible to just focus on one aspect of the book thinking it would give a holistic view of the book. The storylines concerning other characters that were prominent in Lover at Last continue even in The King, most of them coming to a turning point where things were looking rather gloomy for everyone concerned.
By the time the story was done, except for one aspect of a continuing storyline that has been running for a long time in the books, the one concerning John’s true identity, everything else seems to have worked out. Wrath managed to thwart yet another attempt at dethroning him, and used the opportunity to make that one move which shocked the vampire aristocrats to boot.
I loved how Wrath transformed in this novel, finally, and at last, embracing his role as the King of the race wholeheartedly. There is no running from fate and destiny, especially leaving a role such as that of a King, particularly at a time when the race was in near tatters, clearly at a point where leadership was needed the most.
I also loved how insightful the story of Wrath’s parents proved to be. Unlike what Wrath thought of his father’s reign to be like, the traitors were around him just the same, just as insidious in their bid to dethrone him and take over the reins in their hunger for power. Another character trait Wrath seems to have inherited from his father? That take-charge attitude of his, in bed and out of it.
There was one rather unusual character that piqued my interest in this story; s’Ex, the executioner of the s’Hisbe sect of the vampires. He is a character I want a story for. Pretty please, JR Ward?
Recommended for fans of the series and fans of Wrath!
Final Verdict: With The King, JR Ward brings readers full circle with the characters we fell in love with at the very beginning. Wrath’s story the second time around was just as indomitable as the vampire himself.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS
Over the last 5+ years, I've had a myriad of feelings over this series. I've loved some characters and stories more than others, but I feel it's one of the best series in PNR. This book was like coming home and getting to read more Beth and Wrath was fun. The beginning was slow for me, but the final 100 pages were outstanding. I am excited for The Shadows!
Over the last 5+ years, I've had a myriad of feelings over this series. I've loved some characters and stories more than others, but I feel it's one of the best series in PNR. This book was like coming home and getting to read more Beth and Wrath was fun. The beginning was slow for me, but the final 100 pages were outstanding. I am excited for The Shadows!
bookishwonderlandco's review against another edition
5.0
I was so excited to read this book because the Black Dagger Brother hood rocks! Wrath is such a strong character, and Beth is so fun, I was really excited to see what their relationship was going to go through next and see how they work it out, because you know they are going to! This book really shocked me, I didn't realize what I got myself in for! In a good way, of course! The lessening society really wasn't in this book, the brotherhood has more pressing enemies, and it really comes to a head in this book.
In this installment Wrath and Beth are facing a huge elephant in the room in their marriage and relationship. Baby trouble! Beth wants one, Wrath? Not so much. Problem? Oh yes! The Glymera has taken matters in their own hands as well, they decided they don't want Wrath as their king, and they found a loophole to get rid of him. But will the king figure out their plot in time? Xcor also starts snooping a little too close to homebase. And last but not least, to wrap up the drama, the shadows clan wants Trez back to take his rightful spot next to the Queen, and Trez refuses to go. The queen isn't against hurting his family to get what she wants, either.
Yes, quite a lot happens in this book, but it was so well-written, I loved every minute! Ward did not disappoint with this one! So much went down, but they all handled all the drama very well! I couldn't put this book down, honestly I was hooked, beginning to end, and it was massive! This was like reading a tomb! There was suspense and humor and drama, really you can't go wrong with this installment. This really was a great addition to this series, and I cannot wait to read the next! Trez and IAm really grew on me in this one, and they are really great guys, and I can't wait to read their book next!
In this installment Wrath and Beth are facing a huge elephant in the room in their marriage and relationship. Baby trouble! Beth wants one, Wrath? Not so much. Problem? Oh yes! The Glymera has taken matters in their own hands as well, they decided they don't want Wrath as their king, and they found a loophole to get rid of him. But will the king figure out their plot in time? Xcor also starts snooping a little too close to homebase. And last but not least, to wrap up the drama, the shadows clan wants Trez back to take his rightful spot next to the Queen, and Trez refuses to go. The queen isn't against hurting his family to get what she wants, either.
Yes, quite a lot happens in this book, but it was so well-written, I loved every minute! Ward did not disappoint with this one! So much went down, but they all handled all the drama very well! I couldn't put this book down, honestly I was hooked, beginning to end, and it was massive! This was like reading a tomb! There was suspense and humor and drama, really you can't go wrong with this installment. This really was a great addition to this series, and I cannot wait to read the next! Trez and IAm really grew on me in this one, and they are really great guys, and I can't wait to read their book next!