#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward’s ferociously inventive series continues as the most fearsome member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood discovers just how tempting the night can be… by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the Brother’s seething power. Except even as their desire for each other begins to overtake them, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against her abductor drives him to the brink of madness. Now Bella must help her lover not only overcome the wounds of his tortured past, but find a future with her…
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I love all the Black Dagger books.
J.R. Ward never disappoints. The characters are so well developed and personally, I get attached to them. They are big, butt kicking vampires who you can’t help but fall in love with………..along with their shellans. Highly recommend this whole series.
Love, love, love this book in the BDB series.
After the first few books of this series, I was so anxious to get Zhadists story. And, even after reading all the stories in the series, this is still the one I come back to reread over and over again.
What I loved about this was how JR evolved two somewhat unlikable and hard to understand characters- Zhadist, the dangerous, tormented, cold and dismissive surly brother- by far the most terrifying and unapproachable. And Bella, the seemingly aristocratic and snobby- a character we see a whole new side of here.
JR brings both of these characters such a compelling past and present- coloring the facades we see from them both by their complicated and painful past and enriching that foundation by the most recent trauma and terror experienced by Bella. Zhadist feels protectiveness of her, but also finds her experience, and burgeoning need and interest in him, triggering given his past as a blood slave, where he was routinely humiliated, tortured, and raped. He’s tormented- physically and emotionally unable to love because of how much he hates himself.
But Bella awakens him- and despite all that he hates about himself, she loves him, she sees something in him. At first it starts as a bit of hero worship, since he rescued her from her tormentor, but then it evolves into something more meaningful.
JR perfectly balance internal and emotional conflict with the Lesser danger, with the captivating dynamics of of the brotherhood mixed in-between. It’s an addictive and emotional page turner- with the dark danger and the sensual eroticism that I love about JR’s stories. Entertainment with some powerful emotive resonance and meaningful thematic underpinnings.
Bella and Zhadist’s story is my favorite, and I love them so deeply. Their stories broke my heart, but the tenderness and compassion of their love for each other healed it, too. Trauma and pain paired with hope and redemption. The best of the series for me!
I know a few reviews comment on how whiney Zsadist is, but I didn’t feel that way. He was a tormented soul who had been used and abused. You don’t recover overnight from that. Bella was the strong elegance he needed. The twists and turns you take in this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I’m heartbroken over Wellsie, I had to walk away because I wasn’t ready for that. Poor John still working through his own issues, losing not only Wellsie but Tohr. Tohr is just gone – I don’t even know where he is – I have questions. Devastated over the loss of his shellan. It’s hard to focus on just one thing or one couple, so much going on – I was engrossed, needing to know more. Every chapter more turns and I loved it!
This one totally caught me by surprise.
Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2696313571.
FAVORITE Black Dagger Brotherhood book to date!! Omg, Zshadist and Bella are everything! Completely opposite on the elite scale, but both fit each other so well. Bella, an aristocrat is seen as being too good for Zsadisht but she doesn’t care. His backstory is amazing. Dark, grim, and adds their challenges to his life, for how he sees himself in light of others. He sees himself not worthy, unattractive, and dirty, and uses this as his rationale to fight against his growing feelings for Bella. When he’s searching for her in the beginning though, he’s fighting a lot of himself. For instinct and want is driving him to her, but once she’s around, he pulls back. While the thought of her mating with anyone else is heart-shattering to him, he encourages it so she could have a happier and better life with someone he views as more worthy. And all of that is why this book is so good and angsty and tugs on the heart strings! My heart broke for him, but cheered them on. Such an addicting read and if I could have, I would have finished this in one sitting.
This one is my third favorite. What happens to Bella is tragic but the brotherhood stands by her especially Z. She is the best thing for him because of both of their tragic kidnappings. Could not put this book down. Loved it!
*5 Stars*
Whoa. I devoured this book. I really loved Zsadist and Bella’s story, and also all the other plot lines that carry along through book. I enjoy the fact that we get so much of the secondary characters as well. The only parts I don’t really like are those of the lessers, but those are a needed part of the story too.
Zsadist has so many demons that he’s fighting from his past, and it was so very interesting to find out what had happened to him. Even though he was a bit too cruel at times, having those parts of his past revealed helped make things more understandable.
I thought Bella was a really cool chick and I really liked getting to know her too. John, V, Phury, Tohr – all the secondary characters play such great roles too and I can’t wait to see where they go in the next novels.
A few things happened in this that I really didn’t see coming, and I was just completely hooked and I cannot wait to grab the next book. Definitely recommend.
Zsadist is a former blood slave who still bears the scars physically and mentally, and because of this he is unable to let other’s touch him he equates pain with sexual arousal. In this book we got a chance to hear his story and I must say it was sad. Bella who is a friend to Mary who is Rhage’s shellan who also contacted the brother’s about John who is really Darius’s took him to meet them. Bella met Z and really liked him for him she was everything that he is not she was an aristocratic and although she doesn’t care about that he does. Bella is kidnapped by Mr. O and lesser who thinks she is his wife and he is hell bent on getting her back. There was a lot going on in this book first of all Z tries to push Bella on his twin Phury who wants her but she doesn’t want him and he is having a hard time with that. Then there is John who has learned that he is the son of Darius and the brother of Beth the shellan of the King he begins his training to become a warrior and dealing with a past rape that he is very shameful of. This is the third book in this series and it went into a lot more about each of the brothers Butch who is still trying to get over being rejected by Marissa and then there is Tohr who I felt bad for because his shellan Wellsie was killed by the lesser who kidnapped Bella. After Bella is saved she is brought to the compound and although she was given her own room she chooses to stay in Zsadist’s room because she feels safe and here’s were she begins to get into his heart. I love the brother’s they are loyal to each other and the people around them while each are going through there own personal things Vishous who feels like he is losing his gift and for some reason gives Butch his blood to drink. The book also had some very funny scenes like Bella’s needing that had all of the men erotically charged and Z who is disgusted by his own penis calling it (it) or that thing and Phury and the red smoke blunts who comes to his since right before he is getting ready to smoke heroin. Bella made Z want to be a better person and he tries to the surprise of everyone and asking Mary to teach him how to read was a big start for him. This one may be my favorite I love this series of big bad rap listening vampires.
Best book in the series
I have read this so many times but this is the first time I have listened to the audio
I started the whole series from the beginning listening to the original audio releases (lmao yes they are on CDs)
This is book three and to understand the dynamics and the storyline you do need to read the proceeding two books – but never fear they are worth it
Be prepared going in to bawl like a baby – In no way am I joking – I was crying on my morning walk – I think I actually scared a couple of small humans
It is not just Z that has to face some very difficult realities – the rest of the brotherhood also has to face some stark truths – Some must come to terms with change – Others need to face their demons before they destroy them
This is a long-running series that goes beyond romance. It is about family. It is about overcoming personal demons, it is about loss, acceptance, faith,… I could go on but this is a journey each of us will experience differently.
Some things will hit home – resonate on a personal level
I do know for each of us it will be different but it will be an adventure that will not soon be forgotten
Enough of the sappy – I am still drying my eyes and I am sure my emotions are clouding my words
Take the plunge – be it audio, ebook, or physical copy
I will be back to correct my grammar – things are still a bit blurry
Ah! The BDB, always 5
I love the Black Dagger Hood Series! J R Ward is a Fabulous writer – so descriptive you feel like you really know characters. She creates such a wonderful storylinecthatvi feel like I know them petsonally! Great fantasy
Great story and characters, I enjoyed it!
Another winning book in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Zsadist’s story is the most tragic but in the end the most fulfilling. Start in the beginning with Dark Lover and enjoy the wonderful journey of the BDB
Excellent series!
Best book I’ve read all year, and one of the best I’ve read EVER. I am so glad I started this series.
This book took on a lot of dark subject matter, and contained some truly tragic moments, but had enough heart and even some humor sprinkled in to move it along to a happy ending for the main couple.
I was always the most intrigued by Zsadist, and what a multi-dimensional character he turned out to be.
Can’t wait to find out what happens next although Zsadist’s story will be a hard one to beat.
Trigger warning: Rape and sexual assault
5 stars
I knew this book would be a five star read because IT IS THE LOVE STORY OF BELLA AND ZSADIST and they are both one of my favorites. I thought their setup in Lover Eternal was just amazing and knowing how wonderful it would be to continue with their story in this book!!!
We follow right after what happens to Bella at the end of book 2 and we see the agony that both Z and Bella are going through, Bella being kidnapped and being held captive and Z looking for her with no sleep and food. It was intense and I needed to know what happens next. My heart was being wrenched when I see my babies suffer.
Z is my baby boi that needs all the love, hugs, and attention. He has been through so much during the past century and I am disgusted by the people who hurt him. We also get to know more about his time as a blood slave and it was ugly and I got emotional. I do not blame him for being who he is. Who could after that traumatic experience. Nobody deserves to be treated like that.
Bella, my poor baby Bella. When I thought of her being in captive, I imagined torture but when I read it, it was worse and I would gladly give that Lesser a slow, painful, death for what he did to her. And when Z found her, I lost it. I got too emotional. At one side I’m happy that he was able to reunite with her but on the other it was just so tragic. Both of them were in pain and I hate my babies in pain. Bella is a strong and resilient character and I love how she is able to heal herself and slowly but surely help heal Z to overcome his past and have a future with her.
Their romance was full of angst and a deep connection of understanding to each other. Both of them had to overcome what they had been through and how their relationship will go on from here on out. It was hard because Z thinks he doesn’t deserve her because he is not the right person for her and he is filthy (YOU ARE NOT MY BABY BOI) which I got emotional. Z deserves Bella and Bella wants him and deserves so. Like I said, full of angst but the end result was just beautiful.
We also got to know more about Phury (Z’s twin) in this book and my sweet baby boi needs a happy ending as well. His connection to Z now and in the past and how he wants to look after him is just so strong and wholesome and I can’t say more because it’s better to go into it being blown away with your emotions.
And we finally got to meet Rhevenge (Bella’s older brother) and let me just say that HE IS HOT!!!!!! Literally, he is hot both in looks and has a feisty personality. He gets angry easily but that’s because he is overprotective to the ones he cares for. I cannot wait to read his book (book 7) once I get there and know more about him because HOT DAMN!!!
We also got more John Matthew chapters which I am all here for and we get to know more about him and his relationship with the Brotherhood AND see his reading journey before he is in the transition age. We also got to know bits and pierces of the traumatic past that he went through a year ago and I just need to give him a hug and tell him he is beautiful and not be ashamed.
Also, a tragedy happened in this book which BROKE MY HEART INTO PIECES. That’s all I’m gonna say because spoilers.
I’m so glad that there isn’t much of the villain’s perspectives because their chapters are so boring and I just skim through them. I am very thankful for that.
We also got to see more of Butch and V’s dynamic and the beginning setup for the Butch and Marissa drama which I am all here for but also want them to resolve their issues and get together already.
With all that being said, I loved how Z and Bella’s story ended and there was a setup for another angsty read following one of my other favorite couples (Butch and Marissa FINALLY)!!!!!
There are times when you have to shut your mouth and listen to the person in front of you. The problem is, you have to believe what they’re telling you. And that’s the hardest part.