The Sinner

Another fabulous entry in the black dagger brotherhood series!!! I have adored Syn from the beginning even when it looked like he was way past redemption,so when Jr announced that Sinner would be his book I was on pins and needles!! I wanted this dark and dangerous vampire warrior to prove that he was indeed a hero even if he walked a thin line between good and bad. We learn what made him the way he was and I have to say that all he endured at the hands of his father,who was a total monster I might add it’s a wonder that he didn’t become one too. Being one of the band of bastards and partner’s with the black dagger brotherhood and their war against the omega and the lessers isn’t enough to keep his talhman, his evil side at bay so he does jobs on the side not for money but to feed his violent side by taking care of evil pieces of shit and it’s worked pretty good until a mob boss sends him to kill reporter Jo early. The only problem is not only is she a female,but his fated mate! To a man who thought he would never find or want a mate this sends him spinning . With all that life has thrown at him and what he has become how can he hope to bond with this beautiful and strong woman who is half human and vampire! And once she finds out his secret and see’s the monster that he tries so hard to keep hidden from the world will she still love him or will he walk into the fade forever. Jr Ward is a f**king fabulous storyteller and her black dagger brotherhood world is one of my favorite series of all time with characters that are multi layered with flaws and scars just like so many of us. I can honestly say that I’ve identified more then once with this cast of characters. I love where this is headed and can’t wait for my next fix!!! Loved devIne she is one bad ass bitch ! Can’t wait to see more of her. Their was the hot smoking chemistry and even hotter sex,because you know, that no one does hot like a vampire warrior!!! Lord I need one or maybe more then one of these guys!!!! And the humor,and snarky one liners are all hallmarks of a Jr ward book,but so are the tender and thought provoking moments when the walls come down and it’s just the relationships and camaraderie between friends,lovers and family!!! Can’t wait to step back into this world once again! Tru that! Until next time Luv’s

He was hers to command, and if she wished to take his life here and now, he would willingly give his mortal coil unto her. No matter how much it hurt or what his suffering was, it would be a good death, one he had long deserved. Because this female, who captivated his black soul as surely as if she held his beating heart in her palm, would be the one killing him.
– Syn-

There’s always something a little magical when I crack open a new book in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Recently we’ve been blessed with extra little peeks into Caldwell and the BDB with the Legacy books and a sweet bonus book at Christmas. But there’s nothing better than 500 pages of solid BDB time.

Anyone that’s stayed current knows that The Sinner is the book where the war with the Omega and the Lessening Society comes to a head. It’s also brings to the forefront one of the Band of Bastards, Syn, and a character that’s been on the periphery for quite a while, Jo Early. Jo’s family history has been the source of endless conversations between BDB fans and the payoff in The Sinner for them is one of the things that I loved about the book. We also know that Butch-The Dhestroyer-is the key to taking down the Omega. And, in case you’re thinking the title is self-explanatory, you’ll find that it’s much bigger than one character, with a handful of people taking center stage, making the book (for me) more an Urban Fantasy novel rather than pure paranormal romance-which I’ve always loved about this series.

Butch’s story arc has been racing towards its end for a while. He’s been around a lot lately, featuring prominently in a couple of the Legacy books. He’s my favorite character, so no complaints from me. I loved his banter with V and, more importantly, how easy it was for him to express how much he loves his BFF. That really stood out in The Sinner because Butch, who knows he’s vital to destroying the Omega, is in the dark on how his confrontation with the with the Scribe Virgin’s evil twin will play out. I loved seeing him so emotionally vulnerable as it’s such a contradiction when compared with his strong, warrior persona.

Jo Early barged right in and became my favorite female character. It’s so weird when we consider that chronologically Jo is just a few years younger than Beth. With their shared background-given away at birth, journalism, isolation from most people-you’d think they’d be so similar. But Ward introduced us to Beth over 15 years ago and, naturally, she’s a representation of that time. Since then, women have really risen up and confronted the misogyny that we face day to day. Jo is written with that in mind, in a subtle way, leaving me cheering for her on every time she took a male to task. She’s strong, funny, and sure of herself. I loved everything about her.

Then, we have Syn. We last saw him in Blood Truth and he scared the bejesus out of lots of people. I didn’t find him as scary in The Sinner, which is good because he’s meant to be the romantic “hero”. We get a brief look into his formative years (compared to others like Xcor and Zsadist whose backstory filled the pages of their books), and some understanding of who Syn is. While Jo was wonderfully written, Syn felt a little underdeveloped for me. There are things about him that didn’t feel fully explained, which left me with questions. That said, I loved his romance with Jo and how his love for her made him take a hard look at how he was living his life.

Sharing the pages of The Sinner are two other characters: the woman who lured Throe into the “book” in The Savior (I won’t give her name in case you don’t know) and Mr. F, a newly inducted Lesser. Surprisingly, Mr. F’s POV stands out as a unique voice compared to the other Lessers we’ve heard from in the past. He shows readers what it’s like to be a new inductee, unsure of his role after the abusive initiation ceremony. I thought that was a brilliant way to end wrap up the Lessers role in the series. As for the “woman”, she’s a welcome new adversary, bringing a touch of humanity and vulnerability to her evilness.

As for the overall story it’s a welcome addition to the series and a turning point. The romance arc was much sweeter than I expected and totally realistic in the BDB world (quick bonding, etc.). There’s an incredibly slow build up of the overall plot – which I think is Ward’s signature – but it doesn’t work as well in The Sinner compared to other books in the series. There were parts of the story that dragged and while I didn’t skip over anything, it frequently took me out of the book. Questions we’ve all had for a while are answered without too much fanfare and, the like many of the recent books in the series, the ending is explosive and, for me, quite surprising. I loved getting to know the Band of Bastards a little more and I’m definitely stoked to see where the series goes from here.

Thank you to Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for honest feedback.

This book was a final of a sort for the series. The war that has been going on since the first book came to an end. And I have to say, it was a disappointing one. (Spoilers) There was no heroic facing the enemy one last time; there was a deus ex machina cop out (devil ex machina?) that robbed the brothers from their glory. Even if a new baddie is needed to continue the series, this was a lame move, especially for Butch.

As always there is a love story to accompany the war. Syn is a tragic male who has a compulsive need to kill, which doesn’t really make him a romantic hero. But that changes when he meets Jo. She’s a half vampire about to go through the transition to a vampire, not that she knows anything about that. And the revelations happen quite late in the book. She’s drawn to Syn, despite recognising the violence in him, and he bonds with her fairly fast. She doesn’t have much of a character arc and she spends her time digging the past, which is then revealed to her without any input from her. There’s not much about her that would explain why she is the catalyst to Syn’s transformation, but that’s insta-love for you. The only thing bringing anxiety to the reader is to find out if she makes it through the transition. But I liked Syn with her, which made their story worth reading.

Despite the flaws, I loved the book, like always. There were some brotherhood bonding, and the sweet moments at the end made it special. And the new baddie is much more interesting than the old one, so there’s something to look forward to in the upcoming books.

Another visit to the Black Dagger Brotherhood world! There’s nothing better in paranormal romance!

I love this author! When I read one of her books I end up not putting it down until I’m done.

Fabulous. JR Ward always delivers.

All I got to say is I always love Ward’s books.

I adore J.R. Ward series on the Black Dagger Brotherhood. This was another fabulous love story and addition to the series. I cannot wait to read her next one!

Rated X for explicit sex THE SINNER is #18 in J.R.Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. AND this is where I chose to start the series. Other than some terminology that I had to look up in the glossary located at the beginning of the book, THE SINNER could have been a stand-alone novel. It is an action-packed story with unexpected twists and turns. The characters are original and ‘human.’ I thoroughly enjoyed THE SINNER. Now I have to decide if/when I start the beginning of the series

Action-packed with tons of new secrets revealed!