Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Black Dagger Brotherhood #11
Reviewed by Kay
Beware there are spoilers below!
Blay and Qhuinn? Where do I start? I loved it! I just loved it! Okay, first off, I am so glad J.R. Ward finally brought them together. We have all waited forever. The relationship has been painful to watch over the years. My heart has always went out to Blay and in the last two books, Qhuinn. Before that, Qhuinn was kind of an asshat. I know he was in denial but come on! Watching their love unfold in this novel was beautiful. I couldn't be anymore happy.
The fight for the throne? Yikes, I'm kind of scared about this one. It should be very interesting how this unfolds. Wrath and Beth? A baby? I hope so. Wrath handling the glymera? Loved it!
Qhuinn's brother? Hmm? We'll have to see about him. I'm still mad at him for his previous treatment of his brother.
Xcor and Layla? Wow! I can not freaking wait for their story!
Trez and Iam? Oh, please, please, please. Now!
Saxton, what's he up to? I really like him. I wonder if he's gonna upset me.
Qhuinn and Layla? What a wonderful relationship! I'm glad Qhuinn has an actual female friend.
An induction into the Brotherhood? Qhuinn? What about John Matthew and Blay?
I had three big problems with this book though. One was Blay's dishonesty with Qhuinn about the end of his relationship with Saxton. Two was Qhuinn being okay with what he thought was cheating with Blay against Saxton. And three, Assail, in general. Don't like his character. I hope I will learn to like him like I did Rev.
This was a great read and I can not wait for the next book! I wish the next book was Xcor and Layla but no, it's Wrath and Beth. Oh well!
I just have to chime in! I really enjoyed this book while I was reading it. It's lost some appeal as I think back on it, but it's still good in my opinion. I think I started with giving it a B+, and now it would be just a B/B- for me.
ReplyDeleteBlay and Quinn - I really enjoyed their story. I am glad that it was the main focus of the book. I didn't like the abrupt resolution, though. I wanted to spend more time with them comfortable together and being honest with each other! I was disappointed that Blay's lie about still being with Saxton was going on for most of the book! I hope we'll continue to see them working things out in future books.
I will say, I thought their sex scenes were hot! I just would have liked to see more of them when they were honest and open with each other.
I was also disappointed that there was no word from the brothers on their relationship. Obivously, it was implied that they accepted it - they worked with Qhuinn to make that special proposal moment for Blay. However, I really expected some teasing from the brothers, if they were so comfortable with a same sex relationship. I mean, it sounded like the sex was destroying rooms, so surely it was heard, but there was nothing from the brothers. I thought that was disappointing as I was looking forward to some humor there.
I'll have to come back and write more later. kids are home from school!
OK, it took me a couple days, but I'm back to complete my Lover at Last comments!
ReplyDeleteThe fight for the throne - I really liked how it changed from a physical fight to a political one, and I LOVED that Xcor made that change because he so wanted to Layla safe. That's one relationship I really look forward to!
Trez and Iam? Eh. It's interesting. I think that Trez's sex addiction reminds me of Phury's addiction and I REALLY didn't like how that played out in Phury's book. So, I'm not terrribly interested in this story line. I think I'm also hesitant because I don't want the world to get bigger (and harder for me to remember between books). So, I'm neutral on this one. I have my reservations, but they are interesting characters.
Saxton - I SO think he is the annonymous lawyer. I think he likes the old school ways and feels betrayed by a king who wants to change them. It's a story line I'm very interested it.
Qhuinn & Layla - I like them as friends. I really wonder how in the world they will co-parent with Xcor in the picture.
The induction into the brotherhood. I loved that. I was good with Qhuinn getting to go first. I suspect Blay and John with have their turns soon.
I agree with your 3 big problems (lying, cheating, and Assail) though I'm more neutral about Assail. I like my characters to be more black and white, so I don't like it when a "bad" guy is written sympathetically. If you contrast Xcor and Assail. It's easy for me to picture things working out and Xcor being on the "good" side. Not so much Assail. Drug dealer. Working with lessers. I don't want to have sympathy for him.
I'm excited that the next book is about Wrath and Beth. I really think there was quite a bit of foreshadowing about a pregnancy for Beth in this book. I'm not sure what the timeline is for a "half breed" pregnancy either. I'm guessing not 18 months. I think there will be a lot going on with them and I look forward to reading it. I loved the story arc they had when Wrath went totally blind, so I'd love to read more.
I figure we'll see more of Layla and Xcor in the next book, too. Maybe they'll never get their own book, but just be a side story in several others? I'll enjoy reading about them, though!
~Anne