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    Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
    Unavailable
    Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
    Unavailable
    Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
    Audiobook22 hours

    Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

    Written by J.R. Ward

    Narrated by Jim Frangione

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    "The hottest collection of studs in romance" (New York Times Bestselling Author Angela Knight) returns as J. R. Ward brings together two of the most beloved people in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world-at last....

    Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has found an identity as a brutal fighter in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

    Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it's about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It's hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…

    Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions, but as the battle over the race's throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn learns the true meaning of courage, and two hearts meant to be together finally become one.  

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 26, 2013
    ISBN9781101605332
    Unavailable
    Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
    Author

    J.R. Ward

    J.R. Ward is the author of more than sixty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than twenty million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-seven different countries. She lives in the south with her family.

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    Reviews for Lover At Last

    4/5

    413 ratings45 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsThe last two installments in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series fell short for me, mainly because I had no vested interest in each book’s featured paranormal couple. Let’s face it, Payne and Manello were tertiary characters at best and, the chemistry between Tohr and Autumn was barely even lukewarm. Qhuinn and Blay on the other hand, have been around since Lover Awakened, the third BDB book, and the spark between them has been slowly morphing into a raging wildfire ever since. Their relationship finally reaches its much anticipated boiling point in Lover At Last and J.R. Ward’s first official M/M story is spectacular!I approached this installment with equal parts excitement and trepidation. On the one hand, I’ve been looking forward to Qhuay’s book for a long, long time but, on the flip side, this was my first forage into M/M romance and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Ward does an exceptional job of telling both sides of this couple’s story and writes explicit, raw sex scenes that even this M/M newbie could appreciate. I was in awe of Qhuinn’s performance in this novel; from his selflessly courageous heroics in the field to his emotionally charged confessions to Blay. Their journey was almost as rewarding and meaningful as their happily-ever-after ending.I hate to say this but I could have done without the side stories involving Assail, Xcor and Trez. First and foremost, their tales cut into my quality time with Qhuay which made the constant POV changes a little irritating. At times, it was a battle to not skip over the Band of Bastards and Lesser parts in order to get back to the “good stuff”. And secondly, I get that Ward is trying to find a way to prolong this series by introducing new couples but I just didn’t particularly care for any of these characters. Looking back on this series, I guess that all of the brothers were a little rough around the edges at first and that J.R. had to win me over each and every time. It’ll be interesting to see whether this series will continue to reign supreme in the Paranormal Romance world now that the founding members’ stories have all been told.There were a few noteworthy developments in this book that do give me hope for the future of the BDB; namely Layla’s personality shift from Chosen sheep to independent woman and all of the speculation surrounding the future heir to the throne. Even though there are plenty of new things in store for this series it’s good to know that some of my favourite characters still have roles to play in upcoming installments. Lover At Last is a worthy finale to the Qhuay love saga and a great introduction to M/M relationships.
    • 2/5
      Of course, I loved it because I'm a raging Qhuay fan, but I think these books have gotten to the point now where there is too much going on for me. I felt like I didn't get to really enjoy their long-awaited book because there were so many other things happening. I get that other romance and plot-lines are being set up, but when there are six stories battling out on the page, it gets to be a bit much. Though, I am looking forward to Layla and Xcor's book!!! It better be next because I am not super interested in Assail and Sola tbh, and only marginally more so in Trez and Selena.

      UPDATE: I dropped this review a star because I am done with the series. The next book is about Wrath and Beth AGAIN. Sorry, Ward, you've dragged this arc out too long, and revisiting a settled couple looses my interest. Disappointing, but the series had a good run. Oh well.
    • 4/5
      I'd like to call this Vampire Fluff but at 600 pages and filled with testosterone the "fluff" part doesn't really fit. Either way it's another guilty pleasure and this is one of my favourite series.
    • 5/5
      It was easy to fall back into the world of BDB after a long time away. The humor, the action, the emotional connection it was all there. My only problem was I found myself constantly trying to remind myself which one was which. There was so much similarity between the couple that I found them almost interchangeable. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.
    • 4/5
      I did spend a chunk of this book wanting to slap both Qhuinn and Blay and tell them to cop on and talk to each other. The two of them only told each other part of the story and I can see this being a problem later in their lives if they don't occasionally just tell each other the whole story.There are also a few other stories weaving in and out of the main story and the politics in the vampire community is getting more and more complicated.Overall I found it a good read while I was reading.
    • 5/5
      LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I have been waiting for this book since the very beginning!!! I couldn't wait for it to come out! It was soooooooo worth the wait! This was definitely my favorite out of all of them. You read the series and you grow to love all the characters. You feel their heartbreak and you are proud of their accomplishments. They are all special, but Blay and Quin will always be my favorite!
    • 4/5
      FINALLY! Qhuinn and Blay <3! I love how we get to see them grow up and mature. I love how HOT the smexy time is between them, breaking stuff :D. I wish the angsty rollercoaster would have ended earlier in the book because I would've liked more interaction between the two as lovers. But it was still a great read, and well written. I am interested to see what happens in the King's book!
    • 4/5
      4.25 stars for Qhuay

      Finally get the Qhuay :) The books continue on their path to soap opera levels of story telling. New characters introduced, new storylines, new species, new... all kinds of stuff.

      I started with the intention of reading the entire book and then towards the end just gave up and skipped anything not having to do with Qhuinn and Blaylock. I very much enjoyed their story and was happy with what she gave us. Their scenes were emotional and when they finally stopped the BS, very sweet.

      I'd be interested to see when Layla gives birth and how this "family" will handle it all, but I just can't continue with these books. It's just too many stories and too many characters and NOTHING is ever getting resolved.
    • 4/5
      I really wish I could give this book two separate ratings. A rating for Qhuinn and Blay's part of the story, and a rating for all the other crap I had to slog through. Because that's seriously what it was for me, slogging through.

      I know everyone rejoiced when we learned that Qhuay was getting not only their own story, but their own full length entry in the series. And I agree, it's wonderful, it's totally a step in the right direction. I love the fact that a same sex romance was treated with the same care and the same passion as the hetero romances in the series.

      But I almost think I would have preferred the novella. The Assail stuff, that woman, Sola or whatever, large parts of the Xcor stuff, the Trez and iAm stuff, all so unimportant to me. I wish it had been just left out altogether. I am interested in the Brothers and their mates.

      I know, I know, this series moved away from romance many books ago, and that's ok. I do enjoy the actiony parts of things, I enjoy the battle with the Lessers. But it seems like too much is getting tossed into the fray now, too many side stories and plots are getting tossed in all at once.

      So, all the stuff I had to skim, I would probably rate 3 stars. I know it was well written, and is probably leading somewhere, I just didn't care. But I guess Ward has to do something, because she's flat ran out of Brothers.

      But the meat of the story, the reason so many of us came back for this installment, was Qhuinn and Blay. And to me, their part of this story is worth every bit of 5 stars. I loved that Ward didn't shy away from the passion of these guys. Maybe these weren't the most detailed m/m sex scenes I've ever read, but I did not in any way feel that she treated them less than she does her m/f sex scenes.

      My heart broke over and over again for these boys. Well, men. I guess in my heart they are still boys because I have watched them grow up into the warriors that they are today. I feel like I fell in love with both of them as they fell for each other, and have been waiting, oh so impatiently, for them to finally admit the truth, to themselves and to each other.

      I think this book is a fine way for me to end this series. The next book will have to bring something BIG to the table to bring be back, because as I said earlier, there are no more Brothers left. At this point, the story is branching out into characters I don't really care about, so I think I'll just let it lie here. I don't want to come back to see any of these characters splitting up and suffering. I don't want silly breakups or unnecessary angst. I'll depend on my friends to keep me posted on the only things I'm still interested in- Layla and Qhuinn's young (and I see this pregnancy being dragged out a LONG time), and a bit of the Band of Bastards stuff. Otherwise, as the Brothers used to say, "I'm outtie". It's been fun!
    • 5/5
      Wow! I'd say this is one of the best of the series. Girl can write some books is all I can say!!
    • 4/5
      This is one seriously steamy book. Qhuinn and Blay together is raw passion. I loved it! The first time they sleep together was so hotly intense and acrobatic. Qhuinn and Blay unleashed! That scene demanded an immediate re-read. Their romance exceeded my expectations. It was the kind of storytelling that made me fall in love with this series in the first place. It was worth the wait. So good.
    • 4/5
      Any day I can spend reading or re-reading a Black Dagger Brotherhood novel by JR Ward is a good day. Having that book be a new release which finally resolves the complex love/denial/longing of Blay and Qhuinn (two Brother's in training) that good day becomes great. The love story of Blay and Qhuinn has been an ache in my chest for years now, so the title of their HEA novel 'LOVER AT LAST' couldn't have been more accurate.Now I'm not going to spoil anything for anyone, but needless to say. I love JR Ward. So, if I'm being totally objective, I'd have to say it wasn't my all time favorite installment in the series, but only because I didn't get enough of the brothers. The author had several plotlines running in the development of the series arc that didn't neccesarily hold my rapt attention nor did they come to any wrap up in this novel. Obviously, I realize this is ground work for future stories, but I found there was too much focus on what was happening outside the Manse and I just wanted more of the Brothers.
    • 3/5
      Finally after so many years of being friends, 'co-workers' and confidants in every way, except one, Qhuinn and Blay finally have the tough conversation but is it too late for them? The condition of Layla is found out when there is a complication that requires help from an unlikely source. The fighting continues between the race and the Lessening Society while the Band of Bastards try to add to there supporters. How will the Black Dagger Brotherhood handle this threat from Xcor and the Band, that is the next question.Book 11 ..... I have really enjoyed the Black Dagger books, but this one left me wondering why it was so long. I liked how it all ended up, it just took way to long to get there and the middle was a lot of filler. The induction ceremony was great, the bits of Layla were good and of course the Qhuinn and Blay story was what I have been waiting for. The addition of Trez, iAm, Assail and Sola's stories was good too. I like the addition of the Shadows with the interesting back story. I am hoping that "The King" (book 12 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood) will move along better. Either way I am planning on continuing this series - I have really enjoyed it a lot.
    • 3/5
      Read from March 26 to 27, 2014Listened for Fun (Audible)Overall Rating: 2.75Story Rating: 2.50Character Rating: 3.00Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)Overall Thoughts:I listened in Audio so I am marking times not pages.Here are my 5 main thoughts (this book has been reviewed enough that I don't feel the need to say what other people have said already):1: Everything between Quinn/Blay (their relationship)could have been cleared up at 7hrs and 4min. Everything that happened after that until the 21hrs 3min mark was all unnecessary drama.2: No matter how much I love this world, I still get annoyed at the gangsta speak coming out of grown men's mouths! Their mates, for the most part, talk like grown ups so I am kind of perplexed why they don't.3: Are these books even PNR anymore? I would almost move them into the UF category but I am afraid she would drag out stories even more. In the last 3 (maybe 4) books, the side characters have had more page time than the main couple (relatively speaking).4: Quinn needs to apologize to Saxton! I am super pissed about this.5: Blay needed to get out of his own head 3/4 of the book. I mean relationship aside, you didn't know your best friend hadn't had sex in a year. That is on you not him. Everything about their relationship was just miscommunication and manufactured drama.All of this aside, I am ready for The King. I am hoping for a series reboot of some sort. Something that will make me want to stick with it!PS: I did like the epilogue and that made me want to root for them as a couple. I think they both need counseling though.Audio Thoughts: Narrated by: Jim Frangione /Length: 22 hrs and 22 mins Jim is freaking amazing! I really do enjoy his narration. Found out with this book that he even sounds good at 3x speed. Now that is saying something!!!
    • 4/5
      So glad Blay and Qhuinn finally got their story :) I had previously skipped this one because it was on a long waiting list at my library and I'm glad I went back and read it, it was really good.
    • 4/5
      I LOVE BLAY AND QUINN!!!!

      I just didn't know what to expect with this one, given the main characters, but it was handled in the same way all the romance is in all of Ward's books. Hooray!

      I've seen so many reviews where people were disappointed in this story. Really?? I actually love how Ward runs multiple story lines in her books. Things always stay interesting. I don't feel that it detracted from the Blay/Quinn story at all. I devoured this book!

      I'm am dying for the next book. DYING!
    • 3/5
      Eeeeehhhhhh.

      That could stand in as my review. The book is fine, the problem is I don't care AT ALL about the romance central to this book. I think it has just been drawn out through too many books for me personally. All i did was constantly roll my eyes at both Quinn and Blay's issues and angst. Also they suffer from my most hated romance novel trope of never explaining anything to each other. Communication is important boys!

      I was way more interested in the many side stories, they at least were interesting and moved some plots forward a bit.
    • 3/5
      As a writer I get why Ward felt the need to include all these extraneous plot lines, somewhat. As a reader, I feel betrayed in quite a few ways, somewhat like JM when Lash shoved up against the shower wall.

      I couldn't give a flying leap about Trez, Iam, Sola, and Assail...I skipped over all of those parts past the first one. This book was supposed to be Qhuay and I feel like we got 1/4 Qhauy, 1/4 Layla, 1/4 Trez, and 1/4 Sola and Assail. So basically I paid 30 bucks for about half of the book I wanted.

      That being siad, the plot line driving Blay and Quinn was thin and reaching at best. The Warden originally said she might do Qhuay as a novella and I think she should have. We would have gotten a truer story and less crap. I love the fact that Quinn and Blay were to have thier own book...but really, they didn't.

      This book got all hyped up and then nothing. Like I said, I feel betrayed. I also feel that Blay and Quinn should have gotten thier ceremony at the end for the official mating.

      Overall, I'm disappointed, JM's book was the last book I loved and even then it was still not up the calibre as the original brothers. I honestly don't know if I am going to read the next book.
    • 3/5
      I usually LOVE this series. It was a great story, but there really wasn't much to the story other than Quin and Blay. There just seemed to be little side stories thrown in that were good but still no resolution with them. I think Ward could right another series about the vampires from outside the Brotherhood and it would be great. Maybe she just needs to stop the Brotherhood series. There is no brother left not mated at this point.
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. I can't say that Lover at Last was my favorite of the series to date but it was far from my least favorite! It had all the angst that that I was expecting from Blay and Qhuinn. The Warden did Blay and Qhuinn proud and in addition she gave us page time with nearly all members of the mansion (which I adore). There were scenes that had me laughing out loud and others that had me tearing up! We also met several new characters and were introduced to new story lines that left us hanging big time.

      1. I obviously loved Blay & Qhuinn together - chapter 67 Yikes & the Epilogue was fabulous...however I was hoping for some face to face loving or at least a little variety. Don't get me wrong it was all very hot but all the same there is something to be said for a bit of romance and eye gazing/connection in a great romance book.
      2. Blay has the best parents ever! I just kept think I want to be like them!
      3. Also Layla stepped up and was great in LAL!
      4. Assail & Sola - I wasn't sure about this at first but their chemistry is off the charts! Looking forward to see how this all gets connected.
      5. Xcor - Honestly he has creeped me out for a while but as this book progresses he started to grow on me and at one particular scene my heart actually melted for him. I officially can't wait to see how the Warden pulls redeeming him off. And I have absolute faith that she will! We may have to wait a few years but it will eventually happen.

    • 5/5
      God, I love Qhuinn and Blay! The book was great. I gotta say that I found myself getting irritated because I just wanted to read about Qhuinn and Blay, not Assail, not the lessers, JUST Qhuinn and Blay and the brotherhood. Anyway, the sex was freaking HOTT! And those two are just so great together! I'm so glad that they finally got their story, True?
    • 3/5
      Another winner for JR Ward in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and (at last!) we get to watch the love affair between Qhuinn and Blaystock play out, as well as the beginnings of three new relationships (Assail/Marisol; Xchor/Layla and Trez/Selena)Well-written and with less of the overt bad ass/hard ass style that was in some of the previous books, this was a great read, although I did find it too long. In addition, while Qhuinn's struggle to come to terms with his sexuality was complex and emotional, Blaystock's parents were a bit too Pollyanna-ish - the essence of their acceptance was an important message (love that is accepting of exactly how a person is)the instantaneous playing out of that acceptance was a little too unrealistically saccharine - no matter how much a mother loves her son, perhaps a little bit of mental recalibration of her perception of his future might have been more realistic.The romance between Assail and Marisol is terrific - lost of chemistry and Marisol, while a very tough cookie, is much more likeable that Xhex or Payne were.As always I had to read it as fast as I could, so any BDB fan will really enjoy No 11 in the series. Note I read the Kindle edition of this book.
    • 4/5
      I love the characters in this series. It does have erotic gay scenes, FYI. Not for all.
    • 4/5
      The boys finally get it on. If I am not mistaken, this book is somewhat groundbreaking, in that it is the first time a major straight paranormal romance series has dedicated an entire book / storyline to a male/male romance. People will be nitpicky -- was there enough time dedicated to the boys' romance relative to the world-building and other plots? was the gay sex realistic? are there sexist and heterosexist tropes galore? * -- but I was pleased with the book, and pleased with Ward for doing it, and I enjoyed reading it at least as much as any of the straight romances in this series.* Answers: (A) There was a lot of world-building and other plots in the book, but if you notice, that's true of all the books in the series, past the first three or so, and the ratio of primary romance plot to worldbuilding and subplots has been increasingly heading away from the primary romance plots throughout the series. (B) Yeah, not so much, but neither is the straight sex! I mean, come on!(C) Yes! Sadly. I try to read around them since they are so prevalent in the genre.
    • 4/5
      Words cannot even begin to explain what I went through reading this fantastic book. But, well, since this is a book review, I guess I'll have to try.

      After being strung along book after book, dying to know what was going to become of Qhuinn and Blay, they finally got their HEA. And all I could think at the end of the book was: FINALLY! But the process of reading definitely was not an easy one. I can't really count how many times I mentally ranted in anger, or literally had to sit up and re-read something, or was going out of my mind with excitement, or was trying to keep my tears from falling because I was reading in public and that would make me look like a total weirdo crying over my nook. And yes, I own a nook, not a kindle. Take that, Amazon!

      The main point is, I couldn't control myself while I read the whole thing. This book had pretty much everything. The good (Quay, the Brotherhood, new and recurring characters), the bad (not really much of it) and the downright ugly (mostly me and my trying-to-hold-in-tears-face).

      The Good

      1. Getting Reacquainted with the Brotherhood

      I can't even explain how completely awesome it was to be back in J.R. Ward's world, back with the Brotherhood. The book didn't quite get to them first--it actually began with two humans stealing Qhuinn's car--but when it did...it was like freaking homecoming. I couldn't wait to get updates on my favorite couples. I couldn't wait to hear about them kicking lesser ass. I just couldn't wait. Each Brother was true to character (like J.R. Ward and her unbelievable writing style would allow for anything else). They were still the smoking-like-crazy, curse-word-throwing, witty, alcoholic hardasses I remembered from the last book.

      "A deep breath was taken and let out, as if the civilian was staring at that exit and wondering if V's pissed-off departure might just cause him to wake up dead later on in the day."

      2. Band of Bastards
      All right, I'll admit it if no one else will. I freaking love the Band of Bastards. They are the most formidable, relatable foes I've read in a while. I like how they don't just want to mindlessly take down Wrath (much as I love the Blind Kind) and have no plan after that. I like how they're smart and cunning and actually pose a threat. However, I like how they're--Xcor in particular--has insecurities. He's not so arrogant that he thinks taking the throne from Wrath will be easy. And, of course, there's Layla. I don't want to veer too far off topic, but there was one quote about her internal struggle with her growing affection for Xcor that eased my dislike for her. It happened after she saw Xcor again and they agreed that they could never work out.

      "Caught in the middle, between her mind and her soul, she was torn asunder even as she remained whole."

      Xcor thinks he's not even worthy of being in her presence. Clearly, that's not how she feels, but that's not the point. The point is: he was weaknesses. And that's what makes him great.

      3. FREAKING ASSAIL AND SOLA!!!
      In my opinion, they made the whole book. Sorry, Quay. But I just couldn't help myself. I started focusing less and less on Quay and the BoB and the others and started focusing more on the hottest new couple in Caldwell. Sola's a new character, and I already love her. She's street-smart as hell, which is difficult to find nowadays. She's capable, despite what happened at the end of the book. And she keeps Assail on his toes when nobody else can. She's tough as rocks, but she's also vulnerable. Plus, her grandmother was adorable. I loved the mystery of her relationship with Assail. I loved the cat and mouse game they played with each other, though it was borderline stalkerish. I loved that they didn't seem to be able to control themselves around one another, but never lost who they were. Sola was level-headed and determined. Assail was an all around underground businessman with a no-nonsense attitude. And he was funny as hell.

      "Assail did not condone swearing. In his mind, it was common and unnecessary. That being said, he'd had a shitty fucking week."

      "As Assail drove through the grand gates of an estate in the wealthy part of Caldwell, he was annoyed. Exhausted. On edge. And not just because he'd been doing cocaine regularly and not eating."


      4. Trez and iAm

      I was glad to see the Shadows had a more important role in this book. Mostly because Trez is really, really funny. Also, we get to see more of why they're in the novels and how they came to be. Of course, that's not all. Trez is running from his old society, apparently, and iAm is his accomplice. I like how Trez is a complete and total manwhore in the beginning, but as soon as he gets to the Adirondack cabins where the Chosen are staying, he turns into a complete and total babbling fool for the Chosen Selena. It kind of reminds me of Butch when he met Marissa. A hardass wrapped around a woman's little finger, and she doesn't even know it.

      The Bad

      Like I said, there wasn't really much that was bad. The only thing I think got on my nerves a little was the constant name dropping. I couldn't read a single chapter without hearing about what brand someone was wearing, or how fancy this person's watch was. Or how expensive that person's shoes were or how well their tailored clothes fit.

      The Ugly

      I'm not entirely sure Qhuinn and Blay's relationship counts as "ugly". I mean, usually the word connotes something bad, and that was the section above. And their relationship wasn't technically bad.However, at some points, their relationship was...a mess, to say the least. It was rocky for the majority of the book, only getting resolved near the very end. There were a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications that I felt could've been resolved easily if Qhuinn and Blay weren't such hard heads. But I guess they wouldn't be who they were if they weren't stubborn, so I can't really say anything. Still, it was hard to read. One moment they were strangers, the next they were in each other's beds, and then they hated each other, and then they were strangers again...it sucked. And I think that was the point. Qhuinn and Blay--but mostly Qhuinn--had to grow up some before they could have any sort of relationship. He needed to accept who he was and get rid of his past. The journey took up the length of the entire novel, and that wasn't preferable, but it was necessary. I like how they were in love the whole time, and came close to telling one another, but it never seemed to happen. It build up tension, made me wish they'd just tell each other even more. I like how the barriers that were Layla and Saxton weren't completely ignored, and they rode off into the sunset together just forgetting about everything and everyone else. It was realistic and believable. I like how they both seemed lost without one another. It made the inevitable reunion at the end. And when that reunion happened...I was sobbing like a freaking baby.

      "Forcing his lids down, he brought Blay's knuckles to his mouth, brushing a kiss against them. Then he gave himself up to sleep, letting himself fall into unconsciousness, knowing that, at least for the next few hours, he was safe in the arms of his one and only."

      "Qhuinn's head cranked around, leaving its cage of the hand that had remained, his blue and green eyes red rimmed and watery. 'I have loved you for years. I have been in love with you for years and years and years...throughout school and training...before transitions and afterward...when you approached me and yes, even now that you're with Saxton and you hate me. And that...shit...in my fucking head locked me down, locked everything down...and it cost me you'."

      Blay to Qhuinn: "Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally...in love with you."

      I'm glad that Quay finally got their HEA after so long. But, even now, I'm dying to get my hands on the next book just so that I can find out what happens with Sola and Assail. I expected Quay to dominate the entire story, but they ended up sharing the spotlight. And now, I'll just have to fill the void with other novels until I can return to the extraordinary world that is the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

    • 5/5
      J. R. Ward did not disappoint in her latest offering, book 11 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This is the story of childhood friends Qhuinn and Blay, whose relationship has been fraught with difficulties. Will read again at some stage, although a bit of 'religion' is creeping in which is off-putting. I'd rather the vampires stayed with their own beliefs.
    • 3/5
      ***3.5 stars***

      I loved the Blay and Qhuinn parts of the story, even though the BIG MISUNDERSTANDING went on for waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy too long. But again, Ward inundates us with secondary plots and characters that are just not that interesting. Now that Qhuay has their happy ending, I will most likely get these books from the library or my used bookstore from now on.
    • 3/5
      Lots of tension, misunderstandings and angst galore. Which is ok in small doses, but I was left wanting more. Certainly in how the sex between the two main characters was portrayed, the story was lacking. Her scenes in other books have a variety in the sexy times but this felt all the same. Loads of plunging and hard core pounding, but there was distinct lack of the slow stuff, the romance I guess and build up. And dude, no lube? Ouch! As for the rest of the book, I just skipped it. The multiple story line way of writing does my head in. Worth a read, definitely to see these two together... Just not my favourite in the series. 3 and a half stars.
    • 5/5
      Yet another lovely completion of lovers at last! A well grateful meaningful family was ending, knowing that one goes through many things in life. Life itself has a way of bringing different meanings of one's suffering and pain to a much a reveling joy. Again, experience has methods of teaching you all that makes you grow into the very nature of who you are; and the very thing you have been running away from yourself. For the main characters, it is well deserving, also giving both the love and happiness they both have a sort for many years coming.
    • 5/5
      Read it...Heard it...loved it....and would do it again and again