Review: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward 
Published: September 6th, 2005
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Pages: 393
Challenge: 100+ Reading Challenge, 350 Page Books Challenge
Age Group: Adult
Other: First in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The ninth installment, Lover Unleashed, just came out.
Buy the book: Bookdepository

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead...

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both....

I became curious of this series after seeing so much love for it in the blogosphere. I decided to pick the first book up and I'm glad I did. I read it in one sitting and I think this can be the base for a great series!

Wrath is the last full-blood vampire on the planet, and with that the most powerful one. He decides to look after the half-breed daughter of one of his best fighters when he dies, and he finds that he is attracted to her in a way that he never experienced. She doesn't know what she is and who her father is - and thus the stories Wrath tells her are terrifying. But while she doesn't know her heritage, the killers of Wraths parents are still out there, and they are planning..

I really liked reading this book. I have to say that it's DEFINITELY adult material, so younger readers should stay away from it, but otherwise I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read paranormal romance and the like.

The only thing that bothered me a little was the quick transition from fierce and tough guy to loving and caring boyfriend, to call it that. But it made for a great storyline, so that's all I will say about it.

My overall rating:

Four stars and a 'definitely looking forward to Lover Eternal' for this first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series!