NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A scorching forbidden love threatens to tear a rift through the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J. R. Ward’s newest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, convicted of treason against the Blind King, is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by … Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds, he accepts his soldier’s fate, his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his: the Chosen Layla.
Layla alone knows the truth that will save Xcor’s life. But revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything Layla holds dear—even her role of mother to her precious young. Torn between love and loyalty, she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love. Yet even if Xcor is somehow granted a reprieve, he and Layla would have to confront a graver challenge: bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war, desolation, and death.
As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell, and the identity of a new deity is revealed, nothing is certain or safe in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, not even true love . . . or destinies that have long seemed set in stone.
Praise for J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series
“Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic.”—Angela Knight
“To die for . . . I love this series!”—Suzanne Brockmann
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Just finished The chosen!!! I am so happy that xcor got his happy ending!! All shit that he endured as a child who wasn’t wanted and was abused to being a part of the blood letter’s army and the hell he lived Through with that monster.I saw from the beginning that he was loyal to his men and how he was with layla and hoped that JR would give him redemption. This book like all JR’s books has her trade mark sense of humor I won’t soon forget Qhuinn’s shitty diaper duty or lassiter in his zebra print legging with a black jacket,boots and pink feather boa!!! Their’s a lot going on in this read and I love it. The thing I love about JR ‘s books is you can be laughing one minute and crying the next and sometimes things change, it always isn’t a happy ending because like Human’s vampire’s also have relationship problems and sometime like V and Jane we don’t mean to drift apart ,but it happens to the best of us. Can’t wait to see what happens next to the brotherhood , I’m sure throe is only getting started.
One of the very best series out there!! Highly recommend these well written stories and characters!! JR Ward’s is outstanding at building and blending this incredibly sexy, paranormal world!
Ward brought the Brotherhood back with a vengeance!
This is the Brotherhood as it was originally written –
Raw – Bloodthirsty – and willing to fight for what they believe – right or wrong – unto their death or that of anyone in the way
I will admit I had trouble in the first few chapters – It has been a long time since I have disliked the Brothers so much – but; like many others, I had forgotten the earlier years -the dark ones where they acquired their physical and emotional scars –
Ward has set up the scenarios and the directions that the future can take – the question now is just which direction will they choose?
Some of the changes will be for the better of the Brotherhood, others not so good-
Change is inevitable (despite what V thinks, parmesan fish were not the original true?) No one likes change but it happens and you adapt or you get left behind
Yes, this is a new direction, or just a refreshing of the old ways, for the Brotherhood – but I really liked the raw emotions and the direction Ward is taking.
Oh and real quick -OMG you are never going to believe what happens at the Sanctuary – and Who- I seriously did not see it coming in a thousand lifetimes!
The BDB and the BOB
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
Favorite Quote: Vishous “No sheep though. #standards”
Favorite new word: bizarredrobe – Lassiter’s bizarre wardrobe
The heroine: Layla – fearing she would be forever alone, she begged Qhuinn to help her while she was in her needing. She became pregnant with Qhuinn’s twins and recently gave birth to the two. Now Layla, Qhuinn and his mate Blaylock are raising the kids together.
The Hero(es): Xcor – he is the leader of the “Band of Bastards” and had shot Wrath in a previous book. He, along with members of the Glymera had tried to work against the Black Dagger Brotherhood and overthrow the King. However, after meeting Layla, his focus has changed to his love of her.
The Story: At the start of this story, Xcor is a captive of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and is in a coma. Layla is distraught at the thought of losing him because as soon as he wakes up he will be put to death for treason against the King.
The narration on this was fine, though I would have liked it better with a female and a male narrator. The story was great, not only because of the story of Xcor and Layla, but the way that these books include all of our favorite characters. I am not big on MM books, but I absolutely love the love story between Qhuinn and Blaylock. Those two couldn’t be hotter! They are in this book quite a bit.
One thing I didn’t like about this one was due to the fact that Xcor and his band are enemies of the BDB. So even though we (as readers) see that Xcor is now good, many of the Brotherhood want to kill him. As much as I like Qhuinn, he behaves horribly in part of this book and I hated seeing him like that. Some of the other brothers behaved similarly and made me pretty angry at them.
There was also a storyline about the shadows. Trez recently lost his mate, Serena and was drowning in sorrow and missing her when a girl who looks exactly like Serena shows up at iAm’s restaurant for a job, both of the shadow’s are thrown for a loop.
Throe, who formerly ran with the “Band of Bastards”, is now out on his own. He was a member of the Glymera prior to being thrown out and placed with the bloodletter, and is now crashing with some Glymera woman who has an old Hellren (husband); He is still making plans to overthrow the King.
Overall, I really liked this book though it wasn’t one of my Favorites from the BDB series and Xcor and Layla aren’t one of my favorite couples, so I will give this one a 4 star rating, since in comparison to some of the other books, this is really good, but not as good as my faves.
This series is a must read,awesome characters,could not put it down,everything j r ward wrights is gold.
I have been Team Xcor since he was first introduced so I was thrilled to finally start his story with Layla. There are so many ups and downs, a lot of tension, pain, and emotion. It was so fantastic and I loved every second. All the feelings, drama, and intensity made for an epic read!
The Chosen is Layla and Xcor’s book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Layle is one of the Chosen now living with the Brotherhood. Layla bore Quinn’s children during her Needing and they are now parents to twins. As happy as Layla should be, she decidedly is not happy. Her thoughts are consumed by Xcor, the leader of the Band of Bastards, and attempted murderer of Wrath, the Blind King. As Layla, Quinn, and Xcor navigate what it means that Layla knowingly went to Xcor while pregnant, there is so much more going on in The Chosen.
As with all Black Dagger Brotherhood books, there is a lot going on besides the complicated path of the book’s primary couple. We have many threads that take off in several directions. Some intersect and some run parallel to the plot. We still get the everyday actions of the entire clan with cameos of the Brothers and their shellans. Even though there are multiple plot lines, I did not ever feel like they overshadowed Layla and Xcor.
The Chosen draws the reader in from the start. This story, just as the previous books and books set in the Black Dagger world, is intense, emotional, and hard-hitting. Emotions are everywhere and hit the full spectrum from palpable love all the way up to uncontrollable rage. The romances are never easy with J.R. Ward and there is always conflict, internal and external. I always end up with some amount of high anxiety during certain passages in the Brotherhood series, and I would not have it any other way. The Chosen is another fantastic book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
This review was previously posted on Romance Junkies but it is my own.
Well, where to start with this book…first, I liked most of this book but this book also made me very angry!
I am just going to break this book down by couples because that is probably the easiest to explain my feelings about the whole situation.
Xcor and Layla:
“Wherever I go, you shall ne’er be far from me. Wherever I sleep, you shall be beside me. What I eat, I shall share with you, and when I dream, we shall be together once again. My love, you are not gone from me ever, and I shall not take another. Till the very night I die.” -Xcor to Layla
I have been waiting for Xcor and Layla’s book for a while now and their relationship did not disappoint. Their relationship was heartbreaking because they both knew it couldn’t last. Xcor was so sweet, protective, and brave. He has had a terrible life but he lives by his own code. Xcor was like a completely different person around Layla. She really brings out his good side and in the end gives him the family he always wanted.
Layla really grew in this book. Not only did she become a mother, but she also found her courage to be her own person. She stands up for Xcor against the brothers and even slaps a brother for their disrespect of her. I loved how strong she became and I think she might be one of my favorite females from the series now.
“I am not going to apologize for who I love. In fact, I am grateful this destiny is mine. If I had fallen for another, I wouldn’t have been forced to be this strong–and there is nothing wrong in this world or the next in finding out your own power.” – Layla
Quinn and Blay:
So Quinn basically turns into a raving lunatic in this book. He loses his mind and says some truly terrible things to Blay and Layla. He was so unstable I don’t understand how he didn’t lose the rights to his kids because of it. Also he basically commits treason against the king when he ignores Wraths orders, twice. But I think the biggest thing that bothered me about this whole situation was how quickly it was resolved. It felt so off and abrupt that it doesn’t feel genuine.
V and Jane:
So I am not a fan of V to begin with, but this book made me so angry I wanted to punch him. V is pulling away from Jane again and considering cheating on her, which this scenario just happened in Lover Unleashed. He doesn’t even really make an effort to reconnect with Jane. Multiples times he could have talked with her or gone to see her and he just doesn’t. Then he bitches about them not being together and starts contemplating cheating. I feel so sorry for Jane that she has a hellren that isn’t willing to work for his marriage. He just takes the easy way out. I am just so angry at him!
Trez and Therese:
So I feel it is way too soon for this to be happening. It’s only been a few months and Trez is still grieving hard. Currently it is unclear if Therese is just a Selena look alike or if she is her reincarnation. I think that it is wrong that she looks like Selena, even if she is the reincarnation. I feel like it would have been better for Trez, and everyone else, if she had looked different but had Selena’s soul. I guess we will see what the future holds for these two.
Tohr:
So Tohr is another brother who goes off his rocker in this one. He repeatedly tries to kiss Xcor, even after being told by Wrath to stop. But the thing that bothered me most about Tohr was his treatment of Autumn. I just feel like she is in second place to Wellise. Tohr definitely needed to work through his grief more before he and Autumn got together but all I can hope for at this point is that their relationship gets better. Also the way he spoke to Layla made me very angry but I am glad she stood up for herself and Xcor.
Everyone else:
I loved Lassiter in this one! He is probably my favorite character from this series and I cannot get enough of this crazy man! Wrath really killed it in his role as king in this book. In all the stupid drama that unfolded in this book he stood strong and took a diplomatic approach to everything. He acted like an adult while everyone else was having their hissy fits. I can’t wait to learn more about the Band of Bastards and hopefully see them find mates. Also WTH is going on with Throe. Whatever it is, it is definitely creepy and evil.
Overall, I enjoyed this book even though certain characters made me angry. Let’s hope the next book doesn’t make me so angry.
3.5 Stars and this was a love hate read for me.
The Chosen was a long awaited ending to a very twisted and convoluted love story. I think I will leave this review in a bullet point synopsis.
Qhuinn needs anger management i thought he was being irrational and a total dick. He needs to thank the Scribe Virgin for Blay.
I still don’t really care for Layla after I can fully process this maybe that will change.
Trez’s storyline did nothing for me I could have done without it and I don’t think it benefits the storyline.
Xcor’s backstory still makes me sad abusive upbringing and falling into the hands of the Bloodletter is no wonder he is as he is.
Thore didn’t enjoy his storyline he needs to be gone. I am afraid he is gonna put the Omega to shame and he has no honor.
Lassiter love the guy but one minute i’m thinking what in the hell is he thinking and the next i’m thinkin you sly devil.
V and Jane neither make time for the other there is such a disconnect there it’s painful to see. I blame both of them and they need to pull their collective heads out their asses.
Xcor and Thor holy shit!!
Thor needs to be thankful for the shellen he has and move on. Everyone knows he loved his Wellsie and he still mourns her but come on no sex on her birthday??
Wrath is THE BEST leader ever, would have liked to see more of Beth and LW.
Wanted more of Z love the dude.
The mansion is getting crowded but I love it.
All in all a good read and looking forward to the next.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/11/24/the-chosen-j-r-ward/
Long sagas can provoke burn-out more easily and with the last books of The Blackdagger Brotherhood I was starting to feel it. Thankfully, the fifteenth book has been an unexpected stimulant that has overriden my low expectations for this story and made me recover all the lost faith I had in the vampires from Caldwell. Let’s see what adventures has Ward told us this time!
Layla’s secret about her relationship with Xcor, a sworn enemy of the Brothers, has exploded in the worst way possible. Qhuinn goes mental and the poor Chosen is kicked from the mansion and her rights towards her children put under scrutiny. Xcor has also to fight for his life to get away from a sure death by the hands of the very angry vampire who sees red everytime his name is mentioned. Or I should say vampires, because Tohr is also thirsty for blood in the anniversary of the death of his former shellan. The hunt for Bastards is on. Will Layla and Xcor develop their love in that somber scenario? Or will Brothers and Bastards kill each other to show who has bigger balls?
As I said, this is Layla’s and Xcor’s book. I wasn’t very hopeful about it, because the author had already spent a lot of time to tell their story in previous books; so I was afraid of facing an uninteresting love exchange between the two of them. The only stage left to tell was their love consummation and that can’t fill more than 500 pages. I wasn’t wrong, though. There is little to tell about the two of them, except getting to know Xcor a little better and making their relationship official. Thankfully, this time the author has involved more characters in the main plot; expanding the ramifications of Layla’s revelation about her treasonous acts. And when I say the verb expand I mean the mushroom shape of an emotional atomic bomb being detonated in the middle of the Brotherhood mansion.
For me, this book is not Layla’s and Xcor’s story… it feels more like Blay and Qhuinn second take. And I love it!! That couple is one of my favourites in the saga, so the unexpected focus on them has made my day. Well, actually it has made my week, which is the length of time I’ve needed to finish the book. It has not been a happy ride, though. After discovering the truth about the Chosen, Qhuinn loses his mind and runs his mouth in the worst possible way against the person he loves most apart from his children: Blay. That is the beginning of a pretty hard time for my poor heart, which could barely hold the sadness and anger I was feeling everytime the stubborn vampires had a chapter dedicated to them. It is truly messy, but what a joy for a reader! The pages flew with them and I couldn’t read the other parts fast enough to keep going with what I really wanted to read.
And there are more “side quests” to keep the reading interesting: Tohr and his revenge against Xcor, Throe and his evil plans to grab power, Trez and the doppelgänger issues and Vishous with his relationship problems and cleaning the information of humans getting too close to the truth. From all that lot, Trez’s parts are the the least remarkable ones. I have no idea about Ward’s plan for that character, but I hope is more interesting that we have already been told in his book. I have enjoyed Vishous’s chapters more than I should confess. That character is getting faster than lightning on my black list thanks to his annoying habit: smoking. So, reading how his love life is in shambles has put a smile in my face. Yes, I can be a cold bastard as a reader. Although, I must admit that I’m eager to see how Jo Early is going to impact in his life…
Do not pick this book if you are hoping for an action-packed story with vampires kicking asses from prologue to epilogue. Its frenziness doesn’t take residence in fast paced action or fighting (even though there are several bouts of it), but in all the heavy emotional maelstrom that is released since the first chapters. A tension that is mantained through all the book and you won’t get a reprieve from it until the last moment. Is it the ending worthy of the fantastic nail-biter craziness? I would say no, but I can’t deny I’m happy with it. Maybe a bit rushed, but it is what my heart needed.
I do not wish to finish this review without mentioning what I always say, so forget my parrotish ramblings: I hate that Vishous is always smoking like a damn chimney. It is so annoying! And, for reasons I don’t know, that character always has a lot of chapters focused on him; so I have to deal with that enfurating pollution every time I pick a book of this saga. This time, the vampire tightens the noose around his neck even more when he claims that smoking is part of a person’s personality. YOU ARE CRAZY! You should check your brain matter, pal… it is undoubtly affected by all the shit you smoke. No wonder I’m glad he is miserable!
I’m not sure if I will read the next one this year, but it is not for a lack of wanting to do it. Too many books, too little time.
This was amazing, I really enjoyed Xcor and his chosen Layla, they are a great couple, he is the perfect tormented hero that falls for a very brave and fierce female, and the chemistry between them was unbelievable…
As for Quinn I must say that although he is one of my favorites in this book he was definitely an ashole, thank god he has Blay to show him the way 😉
And V, I really hope you don’t go breaking some hearts with your doubts.
That been said this is one ofy favorite books by the talented JR Ward.
All j.r. Ward books are worth reading.
I love that this misunderstood and seamingly mismatched couple get a beautiful HEA. I have always loved Layla, she’s so caring and wise with no prejudices. I have always felt Zcor was a damaged soul in need of saving, and despite all that rough terrifying personna he exudes he’s a Hot, sweet, loving and very loyal Hunk! This book was Tough, I cried, heartbroken for them at times but I knew Ms Ward would find a way to make everything right. And she did! Beautifully!
Romeo and Juliet ain’t got nothing on Xcor and Layla!
I have been waiting FOREVER for Layla to get a happily ever after. This poor girl has been through some stuff. 1) Being born into a culture where her purpose is to serve a brood mare. 2) Having no control over her destiny. 3) Having been turned down by countless males when all she wants is someone to call her own. And here we are, 15 books later and Layla’s happy ending is so close but utterly JUST out of reach.
Xcor and his merry band of bastards first showed up in the series in LOVER UNLEASHED, Payne & Manny’s story (Book 9). They came from the Old Country (somewhere in Europe, perhaps?) with a few different agendas and ultimately got into some serious trouble. Severe enough that the Brotherhood are gunning for them.
Xcor and Layla are beautiful together. I have been rooting for these two for so long! Their path has been challenging and riddled with some big ass potholes, but it makes their destination all the more extraordinary. I absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried (several times) and I loved right alongside them both!
What can I say about the other storylines? Big changes. Subtle changes and some jaw-dropping moments that I had to read twice to make sure I read it correctly! I finished this bad boy in a day. It was so exciting I couldn’t put it down!
What I love most about J.R. Ward is that she doesn’t force her characters into definitive molds or roles they don’t fit into or are befitting of. Unfortunately, that’s been a criticism of many readers when the heroes or heroines—or storylines—don’t “do the right thing” so to speak. Ward’s characters are completely organic and while I sometimes want to get angry at something a character did that I didn’t like, I’d rather she stays true to the story and the characters.
THE CHOSEN is everything I hoped for and so much more! It’s funny, exciting, dangerous, sexy and so emotional! You’ll definitely need your tissues! I think I cried 3 times by the 87th page! I would definitely recommend this or any books by J.R. Ward.
The Chosen (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #15) J.R. Ward is a Paranormal Adult Suspense Action Adventure Romance.
I just finished my 2nd read annnnnnd…..Wow.
Started out just a bit slow, then built up momentum to where every page was just jaw dropping fantastic.
5 + Stars and then some!
Absolutely Amazing!
I loved it. I didn’t want it to end. I kept trying to read it slower so it would last longer. But I was so engrossed I couldn’t stop.
All the characters and situations are spellbinding.
I think this is the best book in the series so far. You really got to know so much more about world and felt completely involved in what is happening. Even the way they seem to be living in both the New World and the Old World at the same time. There is romance, laughter, sorrow and a whole lot of confrontations and conflicts between the different characters that we have come know and love.
And Layla! Her self-discovery has taken a long time, but she finally gets it!
The writing is amazing. The fluidity just one of the things that keep you completely engrossed.
5++++++ stars J.R. Ward!!
bookshelves: adult, romance, paranormal, suspense
Read 2 times. Last read January 25, 2019 to January 27, 2019.
26 notes & 83 highlights (All visible)
I love JR Ward and this is one of my favorites in the series.
Oh, gosh, where to begin? I like this series, but like a lot of fans, I feel the series has moved away from the romance category. I love Layla in this book now that she’s getting somewhere after her meetings with Xcor are revealed. Just saying, wtf is up with Quinn and Torh? Neither reactions they had leading to their unreasonable behavior made much sense. Like okay, Xcor tried to kill Wrath. But they acted like psycho killers as if Xcor spent decades torturing them and then let free. He committed treason, but it wasn’t personal and for them to suddenly be obsessive about it. Yeah, I’m confused. And that whole V sub-plot… I’m seriously ticked. First a non-happy ending and now possible cheating? Just no. But overall, was entertained and enjoyed the read.
This was a clusterfuck of a book. Every character lost their mind except Vishous and Xcor. I hate Qhuinn and Jane with venomous hatred.
I re-read this book
I loved the whole book. Couldn’t put it down.