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Dark Lover
A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

by J.R. Ward



      Darkness transcends on the pale moonlight, six mighty warriors gather together, sworn to fight. Truth, justice, they uphold, with each battle won they know there will be more. Evil forces be forewarned, this sworn legion is hell-bent on slaying those who threaten their immortal existence.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a highly trained group of vampire warriors who are sworn to protect their species against the Lessening Society. Wrath is the last purebred vampire among the clan. He is haunted by the memories of seeing his parents brutally slain. He seeks revenge against those responsible for their deaths. He refuses to accept his rightful place as the King of the Vampires; for he feels he is unworthy of the title.

Darius is Wrath’s closest friend; together, they have fought along side one another to help preserve their existence. He trusts Wrath unconditionally and makes a special request to help with his half-breed daughter’s transition into a vampire. She is unaware of his existence, for he has never made his presence known. He feared that if she came to know him, it would endanger her life. Instead, he has watched her grow up from afar; each day his heart broke when he was unable to reveal himself. Now the time has come for her to cross over and accept her true heritage. He knows that Wrath is the person who can be the most trusted. Wrath listens to his request but he refuses to get involved. The two go their own separate ways and Darius leaves to get into his vehicle. As he starts the engine, his last living thought is of his daughter, for the car explodes, killing him instantly. Wrath is distraught over the senseless death of his friend. Out of guilt, he seeks out Darius’s daughter, Beth Randall, to carry out his last wish.

Journalist Beth Randall works for a small-time press called the Caldwell Courier Journal. She finds that her career is going no-where and her life is caught in a never-ending rut. Having been raised in an orphanage, she has no close family ties. The emptiness she feels inside of her demands to be filled. Late one night, her world is turned upside down when a stranger appears out of thin air. Wrath is like no other man she has ever encountered; his voice seems to hypnotize her to submit to his demands. When he reveals his purpose of visiting, it frightens her beyond anything she has ever experienced. Her heart tells her to trust in him, but her mind questions his true intent. If what he is saying is true, she knows that she is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

J.R. Ward has written one outstanding debut paranormal novel. There is no doubt that this book is the best paranormal romance I have yet to read in 2005. This book left me thinking of it for days after I finished the last page. In fact, it managed to penetrate my subconscious sleep by having me dream of writing the poem found in the opening paragraph of this review. Paranormal fans take note this is a must read book, for it offers you all the elements your soul craves with an even darker, grittier edge like no other that you have yet to find. I eagerly await each one of the memorable characters' own story to emerge. To think of the magnitude of wonderful books to come is a breath-taking feeling. This author has gained a devoted fan; March 2006 can not come soon enough. I can't wait until I get my next dose of a high adrenaline rush. Very highly recommended.

The Book

Signet Eclipse
September 6, 2005
Paperback
0451216954
Paranormal Romance
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: Explicit sexual content, strong use of profanity, best viewed by mature audiences.

The Reviewer

Suzie Housley
Reviewed 2005
NOTE:
© 2005 MyShelf.com