The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12) by J.R. Ward

The King (J.R. Ward)

SUMMARY

Long live the King...

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle—with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything—and everyone—at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response—or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?

MY REVIEW

Wrath, Beth and LW ( [Little Wrath! ]

It is time for Wrath

1. to fall in love again (And for us to fall in love with him again):

“I can smell you,” he groaned against her ear as he ran his fangs up her throat. “The most beautiful thing in the world—except for your taste.”

2. To renew his vows to Beth:

“You have given me something ... I didn't even know I needed. It's the greatest gift I will ever receive--it's, like, completing me already in places I wasn't aware were empty. And yet ... in spite of all that? I don't love you one bit more. You are as important to me as you've always been." He curled down and pressed a kiss to the loose shirt she was wearing—it was one of his, actually, and wasn't that great. "I was wholly bonded to you before this, and will be after this—and forevermore."

3. To become a father:

Before he knew what he was doing, he burst to his feet with Beth in his arms, leaned back, and hollered at the top of his lungs, with more pride than his six-foot-nine frame could hold.
“A soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon! I’m having a soooooooooooooooooooooooon!”

4. To accept his responsibilities as a King.

Wrath rubbed his face. “They were good people, my parents.”
Abalone put the soda aside and shifted off the armchair, getting on his knees before his King. “I will serve you just as my father did, down to the bone and marrow.”
Abalone was dimly aware that others had filed into the room and were looking at him. He cared naught. History had come full circle … and he was prepared to carry forward with pride.
Wrath nodded once. “I’m making you my chief cleric. Right here and now. Saxton,” he barked out. “What do I need to do?”
A cultured voice answered smoothly, “You just did it all. I’ll draw up the paperwork.”
The King smiled and put out his palm. “You’re the first member of my court. Boom!”

I guess this is the book that starts the second part of the BDB series:

-It breaks the norm with the consistency of the books titles: Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened etc. No more “lovers” in the titles from now on. I suppose we all know now that all the main characters are badasses and lovers. So there is no point repeating this.

-It breaks the norm “one book, one HEA”. So far the books’ main focus was the main couple: Rhage and Mary, Vishous and Jane, Phury and Cormia etc. Now for the first time we revisit a couple that already had their HEA and we realize that there cannot be an HEA in this series for ever. Or maybe should I say better all the couples that had happily ever afters so far, they need to be really worried because nothing lasts for ever. And they all need to prove how much they love each other over and over again. (Ward laughs evilly here...)

-More children are added in the series and now we can see the Brothers in the role of the father. Zsadist had a daughter already, but we will start from now on to see the interactions with other children as well and the Brothers will start talking to each other about children and ask advices. The series will be more family oriented from now on.

-All the main characters have their HEA. Now the secondary characters will start trying to have their HEA and adopt a more central role in the life of the mansion. The mansion will be overcrowded from now on. Not that this is a bad thing.

-There will be more interaction between
a)the glymera and the king and
b) the king and his subjects.
Vampires will start seeing their lives changing for the best.

- Lessers will cause fewer problems (maybe the readers are tired by Omega and his lessers???) and the focus will be on the vampires and their problems.

This book brings Wrath again on a central role – in case anybody forgot that he is the number one, the top, the ruler and the ultimate KING.

Long live the King!