BLOOD KISS (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2015

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself…be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated—and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power…on the field, and off.

•••••••••••

REVIEW:  BLOOD KISS is the first installment in J. R. Ward’s adult, contemporary Black Dagger Legacy paranormal, romance series- a spin off from her number one selling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. BLOOD KISS focuses Butch and Marissa (from the original BDB) and newcomers/warriors in training Paradise and Craeg. BLOOD KISS should not be read as a stand alone- too much back story and history is missing in regards to the BDB, the Lessers and the aristocratic vampires-all of which are addressed in the current storyline.

Told from several third person points of view BLOOD KISS follows the Black Dagger Brotherhood training program and the acceptance of seven new recruits (from a field of sixty) for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Paradise, blooded daughter of the King’s First Advisor Abalone, is one of only two females who passed the initial testing phase, and has found herself drawn to classmate Craeg-a common civilian-and a vampire who has no idea about Paradise’s legacy or family history. What ensues is a slow building relationship between Paradise and Craeg while they endeavor to remain in the BDB program.

Meanwhile Butch and Marissa have hit a rough patch in their relationship wherein Butch’s nature to protect finds Marissa on the outside looking in-Butch’s Catholic upbringing plays a significant role in his attitude towards women and sex, and with it comes the potential to push away the woman that he loves. When an abused female vampire dies under Marissa and Haver’s care, Butch embarks upon an investigation that leads to the dark and seedy underworld of sex clubs and BDSM.

A number of the Black Dagger brothers play secondary and supporting roles including Vishous (V) and his mate Doc Jane, with cameos by several of the BDB (but not all) and their shellans, as well as our favorite fallen angel Lassiter, whose comedic timing is perfect when everything is about to go to h*ll. We are introduced to five more potential Black Dagger brothers in training: Paradise’s best friend Peyton; Novo-the only other female who passed the grueling initial marathon of tests; Anslam-Paradise’s distant cousin; troubled Axe; and Boone. As per many young adults, our BDB trainees have issues with sex and drugs, but most of all with the loss of so many family members to the raids, years before.

With the release of BLOOD KISS JR Ward has brought back the familiar, the loved, the swoon-worthy; the original Black Dagger brothers and what we loved best about the early installments in the series. Although most of the Brothers do not play significant roles, the feel of, and recognizable familiar atmosphere is present-something that had been missing from the last few installments. With the storyline focusing on only two couples, as well as the introduction of several new ‘potential brothers’, JR Ward has reigned in the number of supplementary and nonessential plotline introductions that have engulfed the latest BDB installments.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

Reviewed by Sandy