Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) in Vamps with Bite

Oct 03, 2010 PurplyCookie rated it did not like it

Shelves: book-series, horror, vampire, 1st-in-a-series, hated-it

I really wanted to like this book. Hot Vampires, a secret underworld, way glowing rabid fan-girl reviews, what's not to like about that? Instead I was treated to more of the same formula: likable girl (who is mostly a loner) meets dark vampire, they have mortal-immortal issues to work out, vampire has to save girl from bad guys (and from herself), they fall in love, the end (or is it?). The twist of course is that this good girl is actually half-vampire. The writing is extremely formulaic, and f I really wanted to like this book. Hot Vampires, a secret underworld, way glowing rabid fan-girl reviews, what's not to like about that? Instead I was treated to more of the same formula: likable girl (who is mostly a loner) meets dark vampire, they have mortal-immortal issues to work out, vampire has to save girl from bad guys (and from herself), they fall in love, the end (or is it?). The twist of course is that this good girl is actually half-vampire. The writing is extremely formulaic, and follows a typical horror novel plot line: there is a soulless satanic-like bad guy out there, they just need to find him and beat him at his own game. There are bad cops, good cops, and human allies who might actually be enemies. We have some really wonderful baby powder scented villains (no, I'm not joking) who are trying to kill all the honorable vampires. Mr. X as he's called is the most one dimensional villain that I've ever read. His scenes are really quite disgusting. There must only be 26 of these soulless, zombie villains because we would run out of letters pretty quickly otherwise and would have to think up real names.

My biggest problem, though, is with the Brotherhood itself. There's something really annoying about a bunch of oversized vampires who listen to rap music, wear the requisite leather, tattoos, trench coats and "shitkickers" (insert eye-rolling), refer to one other as "my brother" (as in, "What up, my brother?"), use a middle-aged-white-woman's notion of a tough-guy's slang phrases, and are sadly given some of the stupidest names I've ever seen in a work of fiction: Rhage, Phury, Tohrment, Vishous, and Zsadist. As if adding additional letters to their names gives them some sort of vampire street credibility? The vampires have ancient society with it's own customs and even their own language, but the names of the warriors and protectors of their kind read like a pre-teen goth girl picking names for her future children? Even the sole human has a totally unsexy name: Butch. I can't explain why, but for some reason those names alone make me want to throw the books across the room.

The Brotherhood live and sleep together, drink blood and beer together, and have a great male bonding--but differing opinions about women. One disdains them; another rapes them; another takes all the women he can get, etc. They have been like this for centuries until they meet the heroine, who is like no other female on the planet, of course. The heroine is the one gorgeous half vampire/half human who can change any man she meets by her looks and feisty personality alone, wouldn't you know. She transforms this motley crew into a sensitive, caring, woman respecting clan. Can you say Mary Sue?

There is quite a bit of explicit sex in these books, but it doesn't feel very erotic, for some reason. The "romance" of the book was based upon an extremely unlikely love-at-first-sight experience followed by smut. The characters aren't very likable, so there's no feeling of connection to them and therefore no real caring about what happens to any of them. In all honesty, I've read online fan fiction that is far better than anything found in this book.

I'm still baffled by other people's glowing reviews. Very bad writing, clichéd romance book, grown men talk like teenage girls ("I outie"). If you're in the mood for a trashy romance book then this is the perfect read but if you are a horror/fantasy book reader skip this sophomoric nauseating drivel.

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Book Details:

Title Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)
Author J.R. Ward
Reviewed By Purplycookie ...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, favorites, bought-by-me

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

*Contains detailed sex scenes*

This was a wonderful book. I loved it!
I found the author’s take on vampires to be very original. It’s unlike any other books I’ve read before, where they need blood from the opposite sex of their kind to survive, instead of humans. It was refreshing! I also liked the ‘lessers’. It’s wonderful to see a whole new, different kind of enemy.
I must admit that when I first began this book I was a little put off. It’s a lot darker and brutal than I’m used to and I found s

*Contains detailed sex scenes*

This was a wonderful book. I loved it!
I found the author’s take on vampires to be very original. It’s unlike any other books I’ve read before, where they need blood from the opposite sex of their kind to survive, instead of humans. It was refreshing! I also liked the ‘lessers’. It’s wonderful to see a whole new, different kind of enemy.
I must admit that when I first began this book I was a little put off. It’s a lot darker and brutal than I’m used to and I found some parts to be odd. One thing that stuck out for me was when Beth and Wrath first slept together. I was thinking hello, you’ve only seen the guy once before and he scared you crazy, he’s just appeared in your apartment out of thin air, and you don’t even know his name and yet you’re automatically dying to have sex with him.....not strange at all. Oh, no, totally normal. *rolls eyes*
But then as the story went on I fell in love with it and its characters. The plot was action packed and gripping. It was an intense roller coaster ride and I loved the way the relationship between Beth and Wrath developed. He didn’t set out to find her and yet he did. She was the only person who was willing to stand up to him and she changed him so much. It was very sweet.
I’m a big fan of the entire brotherhood. They’re unlike any characters I’ve ever seen before! Rhage, Vishous, Phury, and Zsadist are all such complex characters. They’re so fierce and brutal and dangerous, and yet they are funny and witty at times. They’re the only people I’ve read about who can be raving on about pastries and yet cheerfully offering to kill somebody if it means they can have some more at the same time. Seriously, at times they cracked me up over just how normal they could be even though they’re obviously dark people.
And I loved Butch! He was awesome from the very beginning and I loved his relationship with Marissa. It was very sweet that he wants to be an honourable man for her and I look forward to seeing more of them.

This was a seriously good book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
...more

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Nov 17, 2009 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I am addicted. Possibly the most fabulous series I've recently gotten involved with. Lots of unconventional but believable romance, violence, and a new spin on the vampire myth. Jonesing for the next one already. ...more

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