BLOOD KISS is Book 1 in J.R. Ward's Black Dagger
Legacy
series. BLOOD KISS focuses on two couples—longtime
mated pair Butch O'Neal and Marissa as well the
burgeoning romance between fellow classmates and
warriors-in-training Craeg and Paradise. The romances
parallel each other since both sets of lovers have one
person who came from the upper echelon and one with a
more humble background. I don't believe reading all
of the previous books in J.R. Ward's "Black Dagger
Brotherhood" is necessary in order to enjoy BLOOD KISS.
However, since BLOOD KISS features Butch and Marissa,
reading LOVER REVEALED first might provide some context
for those characters and their relationship.
I absolutely love this book! BLOOD KISS captures all the
steaminess and intimacy of the early books in the "Black
Dagger Brotherhood" series that turned readers into such
rabid fans. J.R. Ward balances both romances with
pinpoint perfection, makes new characters seem intriguing
and likable, and throws in a murder mystery for good
measure. All of these elements work well together without
producing a story that seems too cluttered and hard to
follow. The mysterious killer on the loose adds a hint of
danger and shakes things up without taking the focus off
the main characters and the romance.
BLOOD KISS is perfect for readers like me who love
character-driven stories. J.R. Ward changes the dynamic
when it comes to her female characters in a big way, which
fans of the series have been craving. Paradise is a
character who reflects this change—she is a strong,
intelligent, and opinionated young woman without being a
cliché. I love how Paradise sticks up for herself and is
straightforward. The romance that slowly develops between
her and Craeg simmers with luscious sexual tension and is
also extremely tender with plenty of emotional punch. The
storyline involving Butch and Marissa ties up loose
threads and unresolved issues in their relationship
without seeming stale. The relationship takes a huge leap
forward, and I love the way J.R. Ward has Marissa more
empowered in a satisfying way that makes sense for her
character. I also really enjoyed seeing Butch and Marissa
work as a team on the murder case.
BLOOD KISS is a book to savor and adore. Happy endings
abound while still operating in a complex and dangerous
world, without being too easy or saccharine. BLOOD KISS
entertains and tells an exciting and, at times, deeply
moving, story. The new characters are fascinating and
make me excited to read about them in the future. I hope
J.R. Ward continues her spellbinding touch and
expert handling of favorite characters—both old and
new—in the next installment in her Black Dagger
Legacy
series.
The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues
in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times
bestselling author…
Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is
ready to break free from the restrictive life of an
aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger
Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for
herself, think for herself...be herself. It’s a good plan,
until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably
difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than
allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge,
Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having
serious problems in his own life.
And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate.
Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever
want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As
an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire
program, and the erotic pull between them grows
irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never
anticipated--and left wondering whether she’s strong enough
to claim her own power...on the field, and off.
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