Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion
Paranormal Romance
>
The Black Dagger Brotherhood
I love love loved them all but my favorite is probably Butch's story. It's funny though because his was the one I was least excited to start reading.
I love the JR Ward series also. My favorite is Zsadist. I have also been reading Lara Adrian's Midnight breed series. Those are similar to JR Ward's stories. I also liked Christina Dodd's Touch of Darkness series. I wish that it did not take so long between these books. It is starting to make me wish for just the stand alone books that have an ending.
I liked Zsadist too, and still do! I also really liked Vishous. Actually, Butch is probably my least favourite. But it's a close call!I haven't heard of Lara Adrian or Christina Dodd. I'll look them up. They're about vampires too? I recently read the first Christine Feehan book, Dark Prince, and it was good but it being her first I'm sure her writing has improved since. I liked her take on the vampires, the Carpathians, and I wouldn't be surprised if Ward has read them because there are a couple of similarities.
I absolutely ADORE this series... I've read them all and cannot wait for Phury's book! My favorite 'brother' is Zsadist -- I have a thing for scarred vampire men (both physically and psychologically! heee!). ;-)
I haven't read the BDB series but have it on my TBR list, because everyone is raving about it (grin). I also have Lara Adrian on my list. But have never heard of Christina Dodd. Thanks, Stacie, for the tip!I hear pros and cons about Christine Feehan's novels, so I haven't seriously considered them. Does she have a vamp series? Has anyone read it and liked it?
Laura,Christine Feehan does have a vamp series. Dark Prince, Dark Gold, Dark Magic, Dark etc... In her series, you have the Carpathians, who are the "good" guys, and vampires are Carpathians who have lost their souls because they have killed while feeding, and are now evil beings. I do like the books, but I wasn't as thrilled with the most recent entry, Dark Possession. I felt like Feehan threw in a whole other entity out of nowhere. She's had jaguar people in her Carpathian books, but all of a sudden, we now also have werewolves.
One thing that gets a bit old with this series is that the Carpathian men are very controlling, very jealous, and the build up to falling in love seems to be missing a bit, IMO. But I still read the books anyway, so it must not bother me too much, huh?
I'm reading the Christine Feehan books at the moment - I'm up to the fourth, Dark Magic. I like them and their original take on the vampire legend, but I'm not that impressed with Feehan's writing (or the lack of editing and proof-reading). It's not always easy to tell whose perspective you're reading from, and details seem to be missing so that even simple movements jar. I find that distracting.Yeah, it can get a bit repetitive, but so can all romance books, including Ward's series. You settle on a winning formula and then you reproduce it, with various differences. If I stopped to think about it too much, with my Arts degree tucked into my belt, I'd come to some seriously worrying conclusions about Feehan's books and how women and men are portrayed, but I don't bother. It would spoil my fun!
All I can say is, try them and if you like the style of the story, read on. :)
Seeing as I've recently gotten into Feehan's Dark/Carpathian series myself, I suppose I'll add my two cents as well....Overall, I like her books a lot along with the concept of the series. I'm currently on the 5th book, 'Dark Challenge'.
Anyway, though I like the books a lot, it is very true that her story lines are a bit on the repetitive side with slight differences for each main couple. The formula is very blatant. I also find that her writing style is a bit awkward, almost too Old World even though it's set in modern day. I find it funny when you have a modern woman who suddenly finds herself swept up with a Carpathian and then suddenly starts talking in an Old Worldly way with bits of slang thrown in there just to remind you that she's modern. But, despite that, I can overlook these sorts of things. Why? I'm not quite sure.
The one thing, however, that drives me absolutely CRAZY (though obviously not enough to stop reading/buying her books) is that whoever is editing her books does NOT do a very good job. There are grammatical and yes even spelling errors galore! And this is something that occurs CONSTANTLY from book to book. Why these sorts of things aren't caught is beyond me. The way I see it, is if I can catch it (and I'm an engineer/scientist... not a lit major), than an editor most certainly should.
So, I guess you could say my thoughts on Feehan's series is bittersweet. There are flaws, but I love it anyway regardless. I say, if you are interested in her series, give the first book a go. If you like it, then you probably will like the others. Just be aware that the formula is exactly the same for each book.
Hugs,
Meredith
I absolutely agree with you, Meredith. The wishy-washy language also bugs the crap out of me.
Heeee! Yes, it's rather bittersweet. I can't help but read them for whatever reason, yet at the same time there are several flaws in them that drive me crazy! Funny, no? :-)Like you, I just shove aside my feelings on the fact that the formula is so predictable and that the language and writing style are awkward. Instead, I concentrate on the differences, no matter how slight. Plus, there are interesting facets to the stories and the idea of Carpathians vs Vampires is very interesting, as are the ways of the Carpathians. ARGH! Like I said, sooo bittersweet! Regardless, they are fun reads, just not as good as those by JR Ward, Lara Adrian and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Hugs,
Meredith
The BDB books singly handedly brought me back to reading paranormal books again after LKH/Anita Blake threw me away.I've only read two of them, but I have them all. I started with Lowever Awakened, the 4th? book. Zsadist is my favorite.
I haven't read this series yet, but one of my good friends recommended them to me. I'll probably start on them soon. They seem to have a good overall recation on here, which is a good sign.
The order is:Dark Lover - Wrath and Beth's story
Lover Eternal - Rhage and Mary's story
Lover Awakened - Zsadist and Bella's story
Lover Revealed - Butch and Marissa's story
Lover Unbound - Vishous and Jane's story
I think Phury is next up. Can't wait!
I love these books too. I finally bought all of them. Butch's is my favorite. I am from Boston after all:) (go Patriots!)I really enjoyed Kim Harrison's books too. She's got everything under the sun in her books. Vamps, Pixies, Fairy, Elves, demons, etc...
I am almost finished reading book 3 Lover Awakened, which may be the best of the series so far. I love the series, but there are some things that annoy me. I think that Vishous is my favorite brother.Overall, the books nice and fast paced, the steamy sex scenes are good and hot, and there's a fair amount of action as well. I also think that the main characters are complex and compelling, very three dimensional.
Sometimes the vernacular she uses gets on my nerves though. Like how she can't use the word boots, it's always shitkickers. Or, how they always call each other "my brother" when talking to one another. Who does that? I never say "So-and-so, my friend, blah blah blah..." when I talk to someone. I also hate how its always "male" and "female."
They're also a little sexist. The women vampires are like decorative ornaments with no real purpose, other than making babies and sexing up their husbands. Get out of the middle ages already!
I like the books though, I really do. Its just those little things that get on my nerves. Just had to vent...
I have heard the language they use and the way they talk is similar to "rap." Makes sense because they like to listen to rap music. I have never heard rap music before, so their way of speaking took some getting used to, but once I did I just love it. I like how Ward uses it to make the BDB stand apart from the other vamp series I have read.
I am such a black dagger brotherhood fan. I love Rhage and Z books. I can not wait for Phury's book to come out. I also love the Dark series by Christine Feehan.
I have read them, and absolutly loved the first three. The last two I could take or leave, I was able to put them down for the night. The first three were stay-up-till-they-are-done books. I loved the interactions between the brothers and their women, and how each of them were flawed in some way, and the women still loved them no matter what. That was probably the best part.
I loved these books. Rhage and Wrath are my favorites with Vishous right behind them. I have reread Lover Eternal and Dark Lover over and over and am still in love with both of them. I even keep them in my purse so I can read them again and again.
I have loved this series too, the first 4 anyway. The first 4 said paranormal romance on the spine, V's book said novel. I'll still be first in line to buy Phury's book though. After his it's Revhenge.
Okay I am totally hooked on BDB!! And I have Kathrynn to thank for this. Although Hubby is not liking it. I am on Book #3 right now. Just got #4 today and I am on the lookout for #5. Right now Rhage and V are my favorites but I will wait till I read all of them until I make my final decision. But V with that Goatee has me really hooked. I guess because my Hubby has a goatee!!
God, Christel, your comment could be quoting my own thoughts! V is my favourite brother and yes there is this peculiar thing about men with goatees LOL. Right now I am very thankful that I stumbled across Dark Lover on Amazon. Being a primarily fantasy fan I have read extensively in the paranormal romance genre and I could safely say that J.R.Ward's is by far the best series out there.
With everyone praising the books so much I went out and bought the entire series up through book 5 "Lover Unbound". They’re still in my TBR pile as I have several authors in front of her to read yet.
I LOVE these as well! I even got my husband started reading them, and he reminded me that the next one comes out right before his birthday - and he somehow thinks that b/c it's his birthday he'll get to read it before me! HAH! I just (finally) read Twilight based on the recommendations here and cannot wait to read the next one. I had heard they were making a movie of it, but purposely stayed away from looking up any info on the movie until I had read the whole book! It ended up taking me almost 4 days to read, because with my teaching I just don't have time!! I'm re-reading some of the BDB now and still love them!!
These books are my literary crack. I love them desperately despite thier many flaws and they are legion.But how can you not love manly vampires dressed in skin tight leathers, kicking ass at night while deep down inside they are the biggest, soppy, romantic louts ever to grace the planet? I love them all. But Butch and V are my fav with Z coming in a close second.
Ha ha! You are so right Sayuri! I couldn't agree more.
I must be living right because I got an early release of Lover Enshrined. My God, it's almost 4 a.m. on a work night and I never even noticed. The story is intense and I admit, I shed a few tears along the way.No spoilers here, but I have to say this is probably my favorite so far. It's a hell of an emotional roller coaster.
I think I'll read it again this weekend:)
I have Lover Enshrined in my hands as I "speak"...lol... needless to say I'm hoping for a very boring day at work, so I can read it! The only story I wasn't crazy about was Butch's, but it was necessary.
I got mine from Barnes & Noble. Go to their site, it's listed as "Will ship within 24 hrs."
I found this series after suffering with Twilight withdrawl. I read that series... so many times it's embarrassing!I love all the BDB books. I really liked Butch's story as well, and was not really looking forward to it at all.... but in the end... it's one of my faves.
I think Rhage is my favorite, with Wrath following and Butch after that. I was not as impressed with Vishous' story. Well, I liked his story... I just got tired of all the S&M stuff.
I am now hopelessly addicted to the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter series.
WHAT!? How do people have it already!? I thought it wasn't released yet! JEALOUS!!
Oh, man, that is just soooooooo not fair. *sigh* but I must be a good girl. I promised J.R. I would. Besides, if you buy it before the official release date, the sale of it does not count towards statistics (booklists, etc). So I'll be good...but I don' wannnnna!!!Lil
I want my copy of LOVER ENSHRINED! Whaaaaaa!I'll have to wait for mine being in the UK. Urgh.
I'm so happy everyone is enjoying it though.
yep, i tore right through the BDB books, and i'm going to have to 'ditto' a couple of the comments - Rhage's tale was a fave, due to dragon-transformations and all, but Butch's didn't do too much for me. 1st 3 were better by far than the last 2, and i think that's because it's starting to get bogged down in the formula a bit. here's hoping those positive early reviews on the latest one are true!but speaking of formulas for your series...kenyon's books are just total crack for me. yeah, she has a formula, too with her fanged boys, but she manages to make each of her heroines quite distinct. i like her stuff a whole lot. but the 'dark' books? meh, i could leave 'em. i picked up the first one of each of these at roughly the same time, and feehan's book suffered mightily for it. i just can't hack all the super-possessive domineering male + weak-willed submissive chick thing going on in those books. funny, because those same ideas crop up, to some extent, in all 3 of these series, but it only gets annoying enough to bug me in that last one...
God Inky I'm so jealous! We don't have B&N in Canada either as far as I know, and Chapters is really slow at getting in new books and putting them on the shelves. But I'll check to make sure, cause it'll definitely be going straight to the top of the queue!
Hey, Shannon, have you read Phury's book yet? What did you think? I noticed that people are on one side of the fence or the other when it comes to the changing focus in the books. Either they like the focus shifting to the war beyond the couple or they don't. Personally, I'm really liking seeing characters develop over several books, e.g. John, Blay, Rehv. They're my favorite characters right now, although I also really like V, Z and Butch. I can't wait for Rehv's book. Love the dark and troubled character. (Although that's the formula for her books, isn't it? Self-loathing man meets woman who assures him he is not the scum on her shoes, lol. I'm not a fan of the way they beat themselves up constantly. Makes you more sympathetic though, I suppose. They're sweet with their women, even if I'm critical of the whole my shellan commands me once her name's on my back. For those who don't like the fact that the women aren't soldiers, lol.)
I was a little disappointed in Lover Unbound (and I was really looking forward to his book too!) because of his sudden shift from one love to the next (I've read books where that's done better) and the bizarre resolution. I don't know if I like the idea of Payne either, but I suppose that will appeal to fans who think the women are too submissive. I know I warmed up to Xhex, even though initally Ward really made her sound like a he-she, lol.
I'm really not a fan of some of the dialogue at points. I appreciate the modern, colloquial language. It strikes me as more realistic, since most of us don't speak to "our dear ones as if we were expressing ourselves before the Queen." You get my drift. Dialogue in contemporary romance can be unforgivably, laughably formal. Figures of speech are a natural part of language. The way the brothers say "true?" kind of reminds me of "ya dig," lol. Inventing your own slang is never easy though, and some of it is definitely a miss for Ward. "Laters"? That could have been my little sister talking. I'm not too fond of the names or the consistent use of male and female, but these are minor details for me. I've read truly impressive novels with silly names, believe it or not.
J.R Ward's BDB series is my second favorite series, Sherrilyn Kenyon's DH is of course my all time favorite. My favorite of Ward's is probably Rhage's story, he is after all Mr.Hollywood. All the brothers just seem unbelievably sexy, don't you agree? Lynsay Sand's has a great series as well.
Chasidy, I wasn't looking forward to Rhage's story because, well, he's Hollywood. I expected it to be cheesy, but actually, it was pretty good. I really liked Rhage by the end. And love his dragon. ;)
I agree, his dragon was something indeed. Especially since he had to fight between his two halves but in the end it seems his lady tamed them both.
I have to agree with Chasidy. I love me some Rhage. I also really enjoyed Zhadist's book. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with V's story, though.
**SPOILERS***I agree, Bonnie, V's story was.. I don't know. I hate the way it ended, plus his family is ultimately screwed up. He has a twin sister he doesn't know about, his mother is the scribe virgin and well... he thinks he has 'feelings' for Butch. Haha, those are two men I wouldn't mind being in the same bed.... WITH ME! But still, there is just something absolutly sinister yet sexy about him.
I think the only story I didn't 'love' was Butch's. I found it a little boring or it seemed to drag out too much but the relationship between him and Marissa was nice). Though, I enjoyed the scenes where Butch was kept away from everyone and Marissa found him. You know which ones I'm talking about, right? ;) In the end I think I fell in love with Butch more than his actual story.
Yeah, Butch's story was my least favorite out of all of them. I still like him as a character, though.
Ah- I know, haha I completely forgot.. I guess I should edit that and add 'spoilers'.
My favorite BDB book was Zsadist's story. I loved it. I thought it was so sweet. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the last Phury's story. I won't give anything away, but I felt like there could have been more of a focus on Phury and Cormia.
Amy, you may want to try the others, they're a little more complex than the first. :)
Honestly, they are follow the same formula until the most recent book. There are few deviations, but take your chances.
Well, the _romance_ follows the same formula, anyway, lol.
I still love the brothers even though some of the books weren't as good as the others. I am looking forward to the next bunch of boys coming up like JM and his crew.
Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Lover Revealed (other topics)Lover Mine (other topics)
Dark Lover (other topics)
Dark Lover (other topics)
Lover Revealed (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sherrilyn Kenyon (other topics)Mark Wahlberg (other topics)
Mark Wahlberg (other topics)
Karen Chance (other topics)
Lara Adrian (other topics)
More...
What did you think of them? Favourite book? Favourite warrior vampire?