lol sigh. OK so I started this series and I really want to finish it but it's not always easy so i may just give up? sometimes you put yourself in a silly situation where you don't have to be! and that is me with this series. but maybe not anymore? ( )

Read for the Carpathians Halloween bingo square.

There was one rule in the war between the vampires and the Lessening Society: Stay the fuck away from humans.

I haven't been back to the BDB since 2016 and since this one starts right after #9, I felt a little lost for a minute. The main couple of this is Tohr and No'One, Tohr being the vampire that had his mate die and No'One having been tortured and raped by Bloodletter and also Xhex's mom. Angel Lassiter comes in as he warns Tohr that his grief is keeping his mate and their unborn child from crossing over into the Fade and it's basically alluded to that he needs to fall in love with No'One. As on par with BDB, there was some heavier emotional toll the characters have to go through, this takes place over a year as Tohr learns and deals with is grief and falling in love with No'One.

Also on par with BDB, there is crap load of other character povs and plots going on. Xhex and John Matthew working out their marriage troubles, the Brotherhood of Bastards with leader Xcor trying to take out Wrath, Layla, Qhuinn, and Blay dynamics, and Lassiter's mission. I started to get more into this in the second half but you're going to have to like busy books with a lot of over arching threads and plots. I know a lot enjoyed Tohr's arc but I must have taken too big of a break from the series because I didn't have a strong emotional attachment and with the story focusing on so many other directions, I can't say what was supposed to be the main romance, Tohr and No'One, hit me the way it was supposed to. The ending had a last second shock to it but got resolved with a HEA.

I am interest in Xcor making a play for Wrath's throne, that sounds like it could get messy and great drama. ( )

i was skeptical. Didn't really want to read about Tohr with anyone but Welsie. But I must say... this is a wonderful book about healing and reconnecting in the midst of pain. JR Ward did it again... Amazing character and story development. Can't wait for the next one coming next month. ( )

Trust me when I say, you are going to want to beat the hell out of Tohr. Be prepared. ( )

Rating 3.5-3.75 stars.

I have finished the last BDB book about 1 1/2 years ago and eagerly awaited this one. Unfortunately i was unable to re-read the books as i usually with a series. Maybe this was the cause of the low rating for this book. i had a hard time getting into the story and for me it seemed the story did not pick up until more than half through. It is multilayered and at times, the narration switches from character to character without any visual clue (but that may have been my e-edition) . For once, she is not throwing around big brand names and even the "shitkickers" is used seldom. I don't recall hearing the phrase "you feel me?" neither
It did not seem to have the usual BDB vibe to it. Tohrment was from the beginning one of my favorite brothers. I kind of expected his story to be conflicted and painful. He is mourning the loss of his wife Wellsie. Like a few others have remarked as well, she was never a main player but still liked quite a bit, Could this be due to the love and integrity Tohrment and Wellsie have for each other?
One main player in this story is No'One. She is Xhex's vampire mother and character i do not care for. She seems to have no personality at all. But she is trying to make amends with her daughter.
Xhex and John have marital issues: John is overprotective of his mate. Xhex does not seem to fit the role of an obedient stay at home shellac. I don't expect or want her to. She is a fighter and has become a character to like. In the end john andXhex love each other and try hard to make it work out for them.
Qhuinn/Blay/Saxton: What is there to say, except that it will become clearer in one of the next books.
You will read more about the Band of Bastards, including Throe and Xcor, and Assail. Unfortunately, the other brothers and their shellan are more in the background of this book than in any other previous novel. The mates of the brothers are usually referred to as "the brothers, their shellan and guests..."I would like to read more about Z and Bella and Nalla, and all the other ones. Maybe JR Ward will do that in another novel

( )