Book Review 15: The Shadows by J.R.Ward

The Shadows (BDB #13) by J.R.Ward

Things to know:

• I read the original English version
• It was published 31st March 2015
• It has 576 page
• It is set in Caldwell, New York (Year not mentioned but round about now)
• I started: 26th April and ended it: 27th April
• Book 13 of the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series

For all of you who don't know the BDB series, here is a short introduction to the series:
As you can imagine, this is about the Black Dagger Brotherhood, what a surprise xD They are a special breed of Vampire-Soldiers protecting their race from the undead Lessor-society. Each book is about one of those soldiers, or a someone fighting with them, as in this case.

This book is about the Shadows (a different kind of Vampires) Trez and iAm who are fraternal twins. At Trez' birth the stars were aligned in a certain position, deciding that he will have to mate the future Queen and have children with her. Trez however, doesn't want to be the s'Hsibe Queen's toy and thus lives in Caldwell with his brother iAm (they have been appearing in the last couple of books). Then Trez falls in love with the Chosen Selena (already happened in the previous book) and when he finds out that she is fatally ill, he finally mans-up and they spend their time together - having fun. On the other side there is iAm. He tries to protect his brother, even from Trez himself. As he tries to find a cure to Selena's illness though, he himself falls in love with a maichen, the s'Hisbe version of a maid...

SPOILERS AHEAD YOU ARE WARNED!!!

 

 

 First of all, I REALLY enjoyed this book, I read it in a (about) 24h period (minus sleep).

 

I usually try not to put spoilers into my reviews, but I really can't with this one, as you wouldn't understand why I'd love to praise J.R.Ward!

 

"The Shadows" is all about deaths. I've counted 3 deaths the readers are supposed to feel sorry for.

 

 

 

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO DIES, DON'T READ!!!

 

But the deaths aren't all the shockers. 

 

Layla finds out she is pregnant with twins, not only one young. Around the same time Xcor breaks their agreement.

Luchas is still in bed, asking his brother Quinn, to please let him die.

Then there is Selena, fatally ill.

A woman at Marissa's sanctuary dieing because a young died during her pregnancy.

The second daughter of the still s'Hsibe Queen, born under the wrong stars, and thus having to die.

Rhage is suddenly breaking down.

And if Selena dies, will Trez survive?

If you'd have to guess who dies, who would you choose??
I can tell you I would have chosen the wrong ones, knowing the previous books of Ward.
And this surprise made me love J.R.Ward all over again!

The deaths are: the unnamed woman at the sanctuary, the second daughter of the s'Hsibe Queen, and most surprisingly Selena.

When I started reading this book, I was all like: "no not again" It reminded me too much of Rhage's book (#2 of the series). "Another sick female, which will be saved in last second."
As much as I love fantasy and also romance, I hate how some authors just stay with a plot that was successful for them at the start of a series.
But this is different. Selena actually died.

I cried, a lot! It is a very sad book you shouldn't read when you are down already.
On one side, I would have loved Trez to find a happy ending, but on the other side the thing is, it's way better for the whole Series that Selena died, even though I actually REALLY loved her character. The Series doesn't have the chance to be boring anymore (except if Ward does some major mistakes which I doubt), as you can't be sure if the books have a happy ending anymore. And I personally love that thrill!

To tell you the truth, when I read Tohr's book (#10) I was thinking that this series is really boring. I only read the next because it was about a gay couple, and I was really interested in that. Then I heard, book #12 wouldn't be about a new couple but about Wrath and Bella, who are already married for a couple of years now, and have some problems.
But "The Shadows" really makes me want to read more and more!!!
Thank you for making me love this series all over again J.R.Ward, I love how you are in for surprises!


Lisa~

P.S. yeay, catching up with my goal again >.<