The Chosen (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #15) in Audiobook Junkies

Apr 09, 2016 Darcy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, pnr, vampires, audio-book, listened-to-at-work

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I used to love this series, but the author has managed to piss me off with the overly complicated plots with the lessors and how random characters keep being added, let alone the whole Selena issue.

I've never really liked Layla, she's too much of a doormat for me. Xcor has been set up be a bad guy, yet seems to be mated to Layla. How can you root for them? I didn't blame Qhuinn for loosing it when he learned that Layla had seen Xcor when she was still pregnant. However he went to far with what I used to love this series, but the author has managed to piss me off with the overly complicated plots with the lessors and how random characters keep being added, let alone the whole Selena issue.

I've never really liked Layla, she's too much of a doormat for me. Xcor has been set up be a bad guy, yet seems to be mated to Layla. How can you root for them? I didn't blame Qhuinn for loosing it when he learned that Layla had seen Xcor when she was still pregnant. However he went to far with what he said to Blay and I was glad that Blay didn't let the harsh words go, but took time to think about things. It was interesting to see how the whole house weighed in on things, who sided with who, pretty clearly divided by gender lines.

I know learning more about Xcor's past was supposed to make him more likeable. I did feel bad for him, for things out of his control and how he was treated as a kid. However as an adult he made choices to do bad things.

I was a bit surprised at the role that Vishous with Layla and Xcor. He almost seemed to champion them as a couple by getting them to talk and going to Wrath with the info. He does seem a bit at loose ends though in his relationship with Jane. It seems like a lot of people, they are busy and forgetting to be a couple. At times it seems like he is on the path to taking the unhappiness a step too far.

Wrath proved he is truly the king in this book. He put the smack down on so many people over their actions, yet gave them a chance to redeem themselves too.

Thor drove me nuts. He hates Xcor, I get that, then learns about the secret connection he has to him and now has done a 180. Not sure that I buy that.

The happy, happy, joy, joy scene at the end with the family of six made me want to vomit. After trying to kill each other (Qhuinn and Xcor) and hating each other (Qhuinn and Layla) the two couples (Qhuinn and Blay and Xcor and Layla) talk about their kids and how they are going to stop the daughter from dating. Again it seems like things turned on a dime, not sure that I buy it.

I do find myself intrigued by Lassiter's new role. It will be interesting to see what happens when everyone finds out.

I found myself getting pissed with what was going on with Trez. I'm still pissed that Selena died, now we get a look alike, that feels like a great disservice to Selena. I sort of like Theresa, but I'm holding judgement until we learn more. But if for some reason she is a twin or sister or somehow back from the dead, ie John Matthew and Darius that will be too much. ...more

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May 26, 2016 Talya rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 05, 2020 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult, fave-series, i-own, romance, fave-author, paranormal, fantasy, paranormal-adult, suspense, kindle

The culmination of a couple of plot-points made this one a very exciting ride!

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Jul 13, 2016 Darlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, books-i-own, for-review, paranormal-romance, 2017-release, audio-1000

The Warden definitely shook things up in this one! My emotions were all over the place, and I loved every minute.

The main storyline focuses on Xcor and Layla. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is keeping Xcor alive in their cave, after the assassination attempt on Wrath's life. When Qhuinn finds out that Layla met up with Xcor while she was pregnant with the twins, he flips out and actually fires a gun in the BDB mansion in the children’s room. Qhuinn wants Layla’s maternal rights revoked and that sh The Warden definitely shook things up in this one! My emotions were all over the place, and I loved every minute.

The main storyline focuses on Xcor and Layla. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is keeping Xcor alive in their cave, after the assassination attempt on Wrath's life. When Qhuinn finds out that Layla met up with Xcor while she was pregnant with the twins, he flips out and actually fires a gun in the BDB mansion in the children’s room. Qhuinn wants Layla’s maternal rights revoked and that she is thrown out of the mansion. As a mom, my heart bled for Layla. Qhuinn goes after Xcor while he’s in the cave and, even after smelling Xcor’s bonding scent for Layla, Qhuinn’s rage remains unchanged even though he’s now aware that Xcor could never harm his shellan and that Layla and the twins were never in any danger. It doesn’t matter to Qhuinn, though. There is no reasoning with this guy! He’s a hot-head, and that also affects his relationship with Blay who goes to stay with his parents. I have to admit that Qhuinn really pissed me off in this book. First, with his horrid treatment of Layla and then giving poor Lyric the cold shoulder just because she reminds him of her mahmen? Blech, that was just wrong! I thought he acted very immaturely.

I loved seeing Xcor’s evolution from foe to friend, as well as the development of his relationship with Layla. With Lassiter pulling the strings in his new role as replacement for the Scribe Virgin, he unites the BDB with Xcor’s Band of Bastards. We learn about Xcor’s sire, and that was a shock for me that I didn’t see coming!

Elsewhere in Caldwell, iAm is interviewing for a new waitress and is stunned to meet Therese who is a dead-ringer for Selena. Even Trez thinks so, who is so taken with her that he can’t keep away. I’m not sure what’s going on there but, if that really isn’t Selena, I think it’s hardly fair that she be just a substitute. Please tell me the Warden is not going there!

V, oh V!! My heart broke for Vishous. His relationship with Doc Jane is on the rocks, and V finds himself tempted to stray. He surprised me with backing up Xcor and Layla, but I was troubled by his own unhappiness. I really want to see things come to a head between V and Doc Jane NOW. I was frustrated at how he denied his own feelings and downplayed his hurt. I really hope this couple gets back on track in the next book.

Throe is getting more diabolical, and he’s still determined to overthrow the King. I didn’t particularly care for where things went with him.

So, the part of the story with Xcor and Layla I loved, but the rest of the book was an emotional rollercoaster! I still loved it, though, and I can’t wait to see where all these sub-plots are going!

Jim Frangione is just a pure delight for me. He is ear candy, and I could listen to him all day long. He reverted back to the new pronunciation of Primale (Pruh-MAH-lee instead of PRY-male), so let’s hope for continued consistency with the new pronunciations.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.ca/... ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 Liza rated it really liked it

JR Ward books from the Black Dagger Brotherhood have been my crack since I read the very first book years ago. I pre-order each book as soon as it is available and devour it as fast as possible knowing I have a year to wait for my next fix. The Chosen is the latest book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I will warn now, there are spoilers in this review. I usually try not to put spoilers in a review, but there were just a few things that happened t JR Ward books from the Black Dagger Brotherhood have been my crack since I read the very first book years ago. I pre-order each book as soon as it is available and devour it as fast as possible knowing I have a year to wait for my next fix. The Chosen is the latest book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I will warn now, there are spoilers in this review. I usually try not to put spoilers in a review, but there were just a few things that happened that I cannot not mention to get my thoughts across.

I really haven't been the biggest fan of the whole Layla/Xcor pairing in the past. I have to say that even after reading their book, I still am not the biggest fan of the pairing. I honestly didn’t feel like the chemistry between Xcor and Layla was anywhere as hot as I’ve come to expect and love from the BDB series. Yes they had lots of sex, but it just didn’t feel hot to me. I will say I have way more respect for both characters after reading The Chosen. I actually ended up really liking Xcor as a character. He showed over and over again that he was a good man and based upon his past, it had to come from something inside him. Seriously his back-story made me just want to hug him. Again, I've never been a huge fan of Layla as she has always been way to whiny for my taste. I did love how she stood up to Qhuinn to protect her children and her rights to her children. I do think she messed up by seeing Xcor without telling anyone while she was pregnant, even while I understood her justification in her mind. She truly never believed Xcor would do anything to hurt her or her babies as she saw something in him other didn't see.

Let me just go ahead and say both Tohr and Qhuinn both lost their minds for a bit in The Chosen. Qhuinn absolutely made me want to kick him in the junk when he opened fire in the room with Layla and their children. OMG it was like someone had taken over his body and mind because he was completely out of control. He was an ass to both Layla and Blay and really just made me dislike him on a level I've never felt before. I also had major issues with how he wouldn't go near his daughter Lyric because she looked so much like Layla. I've always loved me some Blay, and when he stood up to Qhuinn and sold him off after Qhuinn lost it, I only loved Blay more than ever. Tohr was also not in a good place during The Chosen. So much so that he directly violated orders from Wrath. Honestly Tohr has been off the rails before, so it really didn't surprise me him going against Wrath's orders. I will say he made up for his mistakes by the end of the book.

We had more time than we usually get with Wrath as the King in The Chosen. I've loved Wrath since Dark Lover, and loved getting to see him as King in The Chosen. Seriously, Wrath was large and in charge and he cracked me up so many times. His humor absolutely made this book more enjoyable.

There was also the start of some issues between V and Jane in The Chosen. They really haven't been all that close over the last couple books, so the distance didn't come as a huge shock. However, the fact that V absolutely at one point said he was considering cheating on Jane really bothered me to no end. While at the Q&A in Cincinnati over the weekend, Ward said that she doesn't really write a true happily ever after but more of a happy for now story. While I'm not a huge fan of that with a committed couple, I will read on to see what she does with their relationship.

So The Chosen absolutely is not my favorite book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but there were things about it I did like. At the Q&A, Ward announced the next book in the series is The Thief, which will be Sola and Assail's book. I have never been a fan of Assail, and am honestly not looking forward to this story, but will read it as I think we will get the resolution between Jane and V in The Thief.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (B-)
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Apr 08, 2017 Nelle Nazario rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-genre-urban-fantasy, z-read-in-2017

Absolutely F@#&ing AWESOME!!! WARDen you Smashed it!! I want to read it now.. I got it on Audible:) 17 hours of listening... over 2 days at work ;)

"Abruptly, Blay became aware of a growl rising up behind him, and the horrible sound of it reminded him of what he’d heard about the female of the species being more deadly than the male. Glancing over his shoulder, he thought …yup, Layla was clearly prepared to protect her young to the death in this fucked-up parallel universe they’d somehow gotten s