THE BEAST
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #14
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: J.R. Ward
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself…
For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect—or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can’t understand—or control—the panic and insecurity that plague him…
And that terrifies him—as well as distances him from his mate. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities—and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world…and Mary’s. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from…
Spoiler Free Review
She was all the power in the universe coalesced into a living, breathing thing, the miracle that he had been granted in spite of the fact that he had long been underserving of anything but his curse.
I’m going to be real for a hot second here; the last few releases in this series left me underwhelmed. So much, in fact, that I was about to give up on it entirely. There’s been a plethora of secondary characters introduced since Lover at Last and I’ve been itching for them to finally get a book. Instead what soon followed was more Wrath, then the book that shall not be mentioned, and now Rhage. I loved the original brothers, and I loved (most) of their HEA. But that doesn’t mean that I want a second book for them in what I felt would be messing with that perfectly satisfactory HEA. I couldn’t understand why Rhage needed a full second hardcover book, when Z’s story in Father Mine was perfect in the novella length that it was. So to say that I was questioning reading this book would be an understatement. But man am I glad that I decided to take the chance with this book, and I can fully admit that all the preconceived notions I had about it couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Beast doesn’t mess with a happy couple’s HEA; it expands on their emotional journey. It’s an emotionally gripping, lovely, and at times sweet and at times sexy continuation to a beloved couple.
Rhage and Mary are happy together, but after everything that has been going on with the war and his brothers, Rhage finds himself questioning some of the inner turmoil that he can’t explain. Then a mortal injury on a battle field where he ignored all danger finally brings him the answers he’s been seeking; but not quite the answers that he’s ready to deal with.
I’d say a predominant part of the book focuses on Rhage and Mary’s story. There’s no unnecessary drama or angst, just a shellan and her hellren dealing with normal relationship issues as any married couple would. It was sweet and at times emotional, and if you loved Rhage before, I guarantee you’ll fall for him even more here. As much as Mary frustrated me in their first book, I adored her here. Her inner strength, her love for Rhage and the brotherhood, her commitment to Safe Place and the people she helps paints her in such an admirable and endearing light.
But aside from their story, there’s quite a bit more happening here. So if you were thinking of possibly skipping this book, I’d advise you against it. There are some twists here that you will not want to miss, including the introduction of a new secondary character that is sure to shake things up in the future books. While there’s still a number of secondary POV’s, for once that really worked for me here and it flowed well with the story instead of distracting me from the main couple.
There’s quite a few revelations happening with Xcor, Assail, and Layla. As well as some real doozies happening with the Lesser war and Scribe Virgin and Omega. While the book is over 500 pages long, I was glued to every word and couldn’t put it down and I haven’t had that with this series in quite some time. Assail gets quite a bit of pages here and I’m utterly salivating for his book. I’m not even touching on Xcor because I plain need his book.
The Beast is a page turning and at times action packed and twisty ride. It had everything; action, suspense, swoony romance, and mind-blowing twists that guarantee you’ll be unable to stop reading.
That being said, if I don’t get either Assail or Xcor next, Lana is going to be one angry panda. I love my original brothers, but my patience is about to go Beast on me soon.
READ THE SERIES IN ORDER
DARK LOVER | LOVER ETERNAL | LOVER AWAKENED | LOVER REVEALED | LOVER UNBOUND | LOVER ENSHRINED | FATHER MINE | LOVER AVENGED | LOVER MINE | LOVER UNLEASHED | LOVER REBORN | LOVER AT LAST | THE KING | THE SHADOWS | THE BEAST
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