Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 459 (Hardcover)
Source: Amazon
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Review Date: December 19, 2016
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: The Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to train the best of the best to join them in the deadly battle against the Lessening Society. Among the new recruits, Axe proves to be a cunning and vicious fighter—and also a loner isolated because of personal tragedy. When an aristocratic female needs a bodyguard, Axe takes the job, though he’s unprepared for the animal attraction that flares between him and the one he is sworn to protect.
For Elise, who lost her first cousin to a grisly murder, Axe’s dangerous appeal is enticing—and possibly a distraction from her grief. But as they delve deeper into her cousin’s death, and their physical connection grows into so much more, Axe fears that the secrets he keeps and his tortured conscience will tear them apart.
Rhage, the Brother with the biggest heart, knows all about self-punishing, and he wants to help Axe reach his full potential. But when an unexpected arrival threatens Rhage and Mary’s new family, he finds himself back in the trenches again, fighting against a destiny that will destroy all he holds most dear.
As Axe’s past becomes known, and fate seems to be turning against Rhage, both males must reach deep—and pray that love, rather than anger, will be their lantern in the darkness.
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 459 (Hardcover)
Source: Amazon
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Review Date: December 19, 2016
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: The Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to train the best of the best to join them in the deadly battle against the Lessening Society. Among the new recruits, Axe proves to be a cunning and vicious fighter—and also a loner isolated because of personal tragedy. When an aristocratic female needs a bodyguard, Axe takes the job, though he’s unprepared for the animal attraction that flares between him and the one he is sworn to protect.
For Elise, who lost her first cousin to a grisly murder, Axe’s dangerous appeal is enticing—and possibly a distraction from her grief. But as they delve deeper into her cousin’s death, and their physical connection grows into so much more, Axe fears that the secrets he keeps and his tortured conscience will tear them apart.
Rhage, the Brother with the biggest heart, knows all about self-punishing, and he wants to help Axe reach his full potential. But when an unexpected arrival threatens Rhage and Mary’s new family, he finds himself back in the trenches again, fighting against a destiny that will destroy all he holds most dear.
As Axe’s past becomes known, and fate seems to be turning against Rhage, both males must reach deep—and pray that love, rather than anger, will be their lantern in the darkness.
Blood Vow was a fun and quick read, very typical of Ward's writing style. There were things that concern me as this series goes forward. I both liked and didn't like that this book seems like another installment of the BDB series. In addition to learning about Axe and Elise, it felt like this was a book dedicated to the continuing Rhage/Mary/Bitty story, probably around 65% of the story. The two series are woven so tightly that they mostly seem like one in the same series.
The only main difference in the two series is that the main romance in the Black Dagger Legacy books center around the trainees. The trainee in this book is Axe and he has tons of issues, he's an ex-drug user, poor, abandoned by his mother, and his father killed was the raids. Not to mention his daddy issues in general. Axe meets Elise and his world changes. Elise is the 100% complete opposite of Axe. Wealthy, Glymera, but she has a slight edge to her. I like them together. They aren't a power couple by any means, but they are cute enough.
The only main difference in the two series is that the main romance in the Black Dagger Legacy books center around the trainees. The trainee in this book is Axe and he has tons of issues, he's an ex-drug user, poor, abandoned by his mother, and his father killed was the raids. Not to mention his daddy issues in general. Axe meets Elise and his world changes. Elise is the 100% complete opposite of Axe. Wealthy, Glymera, but she has a slight edge to her. I like them together. They aren't a power couple by any means, but they are cute enough.
Regarding the trainees, we got a few scenes of them still in training, but it was minimal at best. I like the trainees and wish that there were more scenes with them. Petyon, Novo (I see the writing on the wall with those two), plus I'd like to see more interaction with Paradise and Craeg as well. They are a "team" and trained together, you'd think that they'd have more interactions. The BDB team is tight, and I'd expect the new squad to be equally as tight with each other.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. My 4 bookmark rating tells you that, but it's not perfect. I'm not sure how someone that's new to this world and started with Blood Kiss would feel about this series because it seemed like another BDB story with a few new minor characters. Not like it was an entirely different spinoff series. I felt that book one, Blood Kiss, did a better job showing that it was a new series, with new characters. Hopefully those that started off with Blood Kiss aren't lost with the Rhage/Mary/Bitty story line.
I had one really significant issue with this installment and that's the fact that there was no real villain. No big bad, just family drama. Not that it's a bad thing, and of course there were Lessers to kill, but I miss seeing the ultimate big bad in her series. I hope that as we go forward in this series a new villain will come to light.
Have you been reading the Black Dagger Legacy series? Please share your thoughts on the second installment. If you're brand new to this world and have started with this series, I'd really love to hear your feedback.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. My 4 bookmark rating tells you that, but it's not perfect. I'm not sure how someone that's new to this world and started with Blood Kiss would feel about this series because it seemed like another BDB story with a few new minor characters. Not like it was an entirely different spinoff series. I felt that book one, Blood Kiss, did a better job showing that it was a new series, with new characters. Hopefully those that started off with Blood Kiss aren't lost with the Rhage/Mary/Bitty story line.
I had one really significant issue with this installment and that's the fact that there was no real villain. No big bad, just family drama. Not that it's a bad thing, and of course there were Lessers to kill, but I miss seeing the ultimate big bad in her series. I hope that as we go forward in this series a new villain will come to light.
Have you been reading the Black Dagger Legacy series? Please share your thoughts on the second installment. If you're brand new to this world and have started with this series, I'd really love to hear your feedback.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Get the Kindle version here:
| Get the Audible version here:
| Get the Audible version here:
