Customer Reviews

The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Okay, I'm just going to put it out there. This book is NOT worth the inflated price. There is really no need to OWN this book. If you have access to the website, then you basically have this book, in a nutshell.

The best thing about this book is the short novella between Bella and Zsadist. But even that's not worth the cost of this book. I actually read the short story at Barnes & Nobles.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice extras: deleted scenes, brother's stats, questions and answers from the Warden, and even a picture of what the old language looks like. But, (and I kinda hate to mention this) it feels like a ripoff, because she used to post these things for free on her website. And that nice section for wannabe writers: Suzanne Brockmann DOES give it away for free on her website. As a matter of fact, she gives away free Readers' Guides which has short stories about the present characters, even ongoing stories about favorite previous characters before each of her books are published. And if you don't have access to a paper copy of Suzanne's Readers' Guides, you just download them (for free) on her website.

If you must have this book, and most cellies (like myself) "must;" wait until you can find it second-hand. It is NOT worth the price.

I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series BUT I got this on my Kindle and I can't read any of the "interviews" the type is way too small and too light to read, even on the largest font. This is the ONLY book I am sorry I bought on the Kindle. I really love the Kindle and this series but the translation to the Kindle did not turn out well at all. I hate to say anything bad about my Kindle but this book I will have to get in Paperback to be able to read it.

This is, in my opinion, an essential guide for fans of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, even those who have become disillusioned with the direction of the more recent books. The novella with Zsadist and Bella alone is worth the price. And add to that tons of information about each of the six brothers, all neatly gathered, right at your finger tips. A great guide to keep along with all your other brother books. Its sure to please any fan.

The Insider's Guide includes-
*82 page novella about Zsadist, Bella and Nalla (covers the birth and months afterward concentrating on Zsadist's adjustment to fatherhood)
* The Brother's stats (age, weight, eyes etc), personal questions answer sheet (e.i. fav TV show, what do you fear most?, most romantic thing you've ever done), and Ward's personal 'interview' with each brother
*Writer's guide -for those who want to know about breaking into the publishing business Ward gives some advice. Also included is the proposal for the brotherhood series that was sent through her agent to publishers.
*Deleted scenes -your absolutely going to love this if your Z fan *sigh*
*Kicks and Giggles -interesting quotes from each of the books
*Brother's on the board (that's Ward's discussion board) -imagine if-you-will that the brother's are regular posters on a discussion board this is what they write about themselves and others (they tease each other unmercifully)-some very funny scenes! Also includes Phury and Cormia's mating ceremony.
*Slices of life -little vignettes that Ward posted on the board about the brothers. Includes Movie Night, Wrath and the Letter Opener, In the Nature of Phury, and The Interview That Never Happened.
*Question and answer with Ward
*Time Line of the Brotherhood
*Table of abbreviations (i.e. -BTW)
*Picture of what the old language looks like
*The Brotherhood's Interview
*In Memoriam -Wellsie and Ward talk
*Excerpt -Lover Avenged (Rhev's book)

Recommended for fans of Wrath, Rhage, Butch, Vishous, Phury and especially Zsadist (I got mine book marked already!). Chock full of great stuff that I found touching and laugh-out-loud funny. It really helped me define the characters that I thought I knew so well already. I fell in love with these guys all over again!

***Not for anyone new to the series. You should read all the books first -major spoilers otherwise.

Dark Lover: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)
Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3)
Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4)
Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5)
Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)

While this guide gives fans and new comers a fabulous look inside the world of The Black Dagger Brotherhood, I'll mainly be reviewing the short story,'Father Mine' featuring the Brother Zsadist and his shellan, Bella. At the end, I'll provide a brief overview and my thoughts of the remaining contents.

First of all, THANK YOU J.R. Ward for returning to ROMANCE!!!

I, along with many others, felt that you may have broken away from what was and is so important to fans and that's the sensual and hot romance you provide with the BDB. If anything, you've re-inspired my love for the Brothers and their fascinating world.

I'd also like to mention that 'Father Mine' can be read and understood by those few who are unfamiliar with Ward's unique world and characters. Some aspects may be confusing, yes, but I think all readers can fully appreciate the premise of 'Father Mine' and the emotions it evokes.

Zsadist and Bella received their HEA in 'Lover Awakened'. Yet like all characters in the BDB world, life doesn't necessarily stop spinning after the honeymoon. Z, the most tortured soul of all the Brothers, is still coping with the tragedy of his past and learning how to function as a true contributing member of the Brotherhood. While Bella provides some serious light to his darkness, things are certainly far from being blissful. 'Father Mine' reveals Z and Bella's realistic struggle after the birth of their daughter, Nalla, and the effect she's had on their relationship.

Nalla represents all things pure and innocent, as all children do. But unlike most who are drawn to that innocence, Z has yet to even acknowledge Nalla as his own, let alone touch her. Z has thought nothing of Nalla in terms of possession. She's Bella's young. He does not think in terms of his or ours but only as hers. And while Bella has given Z space to come to terms with his new role as a father, Nalla is beginning to exhibit signs of neglect. She reaches for Z and when Z can't even bring himself to look at her directly, Nalla feels rejected. Bella has now, four months after the birth, come to the heart-breaking decision that she must leave Z so that Nalla is protected from any feelings of failure.

Although, Nalla is not the only reason for Bella's decision to leave her hellran. Since the birth of their child, Z and Bella have ceased to have a sexual relationship. When Bella needs to feed from Zsadist's vein, it offered to her only out of compassion rather than in passion. In addition, Z hasn't feed in return from Bella and is now resembling the skeletal giant that was him at the beginning of 'Lover Awakened'. For these reasons, Bella no longer feels wanted and although her body has returned to it's pre-baby form, Z never looks at her in lust but merely as a beloved sister. While on the other hand, within Z's POV we learn that he feels that she doesn't want him for she is always covering herself in his presence. She no longer touches him in passion. Plus, Z wants Bella to be fully capable of handling her new responsibilities so by staying away he is allowing her to focus on her young.

I think these reactions and circumstances are common for first time parents. While I have no children with my husband, I'm aware of the problems that plague marriages after the stress of children. Z and Bella's thoughts and concerns in regards for one another is something that everyday couples learn cope with. If anything, 'Father Mine' tells the story of two people trying to make the relationship work with the hope of returning to life as it was before children, but the fact remains that babies change everything.

It's only after Zsadist faces a near death experience that he realizes all he stands to loose and finally fights for Bella and Nalla. First he reassures Bella that he still desires her and wow, the love scenes were trademark Ward, with plenty of hot moments involving a very naked, vocal, and hungry Zsadist. After which he makes a valiant effort with Nalla but runs into problems and emotions involving his slave bands. He can't bare for Nalla to touch them in fear that his sordid past will taint her precious innocence. The rest of the story deals with his eventual acceptance that though one day Nalla will force him to explain the bands existence, he knows now that she won't be tainted. That like Bella, she loves and accepts him for who he is. The scenes where Zsadist tentatively reaches out for that first touch of Nalla's tiny infant hand were heart melting and beautiful.

This story, while dealing with very human issues, was poignant and achingly romantic. I hope this is a sign that Ward with do Rehvenge justice in 'Lover Avenged' and give him the romance he deserves.

Now for the remaining contents of the Insider's Guide. I really enjoyed J.R. Ward's author comments for each of the BDB novels. It was interesting to read about her writing process and how each book, though part of series, is unique. These comments provided closure in a lot of ways with regards to certain plot lines and endings. Her reaction to reader comments is enlightening and I truly felt that after reading her thoughts, that Ward takes reader feelings very seriously and very much to heart. I was especially content with Ward's explanation for Jane and her fate with the Brotherhood.

I've always had mixed reactions to the interviews with the brothers, both on her website, message boards, and now with the Guide. It's not that I don't enjoy them, I just find the interview concept a little strange. I never get the details that I want, especially with my favorite Brothers because they are the least talkative and the ones that I want to read about most. But besides my strange preferences they were still fun to read and helped me to maintain my addiction with reading new Brotherhood material. The corresponding Brother specs were pretty cool. I liked having a visual reference for birth years, height, weight, etc.

My next favorite portion of the guide, after 'Father Mine', was the deleted scenes. Yet I wonder if any other fans were disappointed at the conspicuously missing and much talked about pool scene with Rhage and Mary. I'm defiantly wondering why Ward left this out.

The portion of the Guide that I didn't read was the Brothers on the BDB Message Boards because I'm already a frequent lurker and have read all these postings before. But for anyone who doesn't participate on the Message Boards will find much humor in these postings. Plus, for those who are unfamiliar with Lassiter and his history with the Brotherhood will be fully informed as to why he gets a rise out of the Cellies.

I also didn't read Tohr and Wellsie's last interview because I couldn't subject myself to the heartache and I don't think that I ever will. That's it on that note.

I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get a longer excerpt from 'Lover Avenged' but what was provided was enough to give me withdrawal shakes 'til I can once again get my Brotherhood fix.

I liked the story of Z and Bella. However, if You've read the other books in this series, or visited her website you don't have to bother reading anything else in this book. There were actual postings and info that you can read for free on her website. I pretty much skimmed through and searched for stuff that I hadn't already read. I borrowed this book from someone. I'm really thankful that I didn't pay $10 for this short story. My advice is buy it used.

I looked forward to receiving this but was very disappointed. The beginning with the Bella and Zsadist excerpt is about the only thing worth having, but it's not worth the $$$ for only 80 or so pages. I loved the other books and hope the next will be a lot better than the Insider's Guide. Save your money...I wish I would have.

I must be honest. I have never read a guide or compendium, nor have I ever had the desire to. Since this is by far my favorite PNR series, I decided if J.R. wrote it, than I owed it to myself to read it.

Thank god I did! I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. It was like opening a tree full of Christmas presents, each one better than the last. From the never before published novella, "Father Mine", which was as heart-wrenching as it was hearth-warming, to countless musings and interactions that had me laughing out loud. The brothers are back in rare form, picking on each other as only they can. Ward's use of the "interview" provides character details that continue to make her readers feel sure that the Brothers are alive and well and living in New York State.

This book will be an incredible resource to up-and-coming writers with tons of behind-the-scene info on her writing process that is equally interesting to plain old readers such as me. The only downside is that it has only made the wait for the next installment even more difficult after reading the excerpt from Lover Avenged, which is not due out till, I believe, June 09.

The novella is enjoyable as well as the preview of the upcoming book. The dossiers of the characters, descriptions of how the books came about, and the 'interviews' of the characters just didn't engage my interest.

I thought it was a little over priced for what you get but it was okay. The Zsadist, Bella novella was great but some of the other stuff is just silly.

As previous reviewers have mentioned, the novella of Z and Bella was excellent. However, the rest of the compendium was a rehash of information on her website - Brothers on the Board were from 2006/2007, Slices of LIfe have been on the website for over a year, etc.

I didn't find a huge amount of new information in the book but the format made it easy to find and enjoy. The best lines were fun to see again in one place.

If you are new to the Brotherhood or don't visit Ward's website, then this book is for you. If you regularly visit her website or follow the author, this book will be a rehash for the most part and not worth your money (except for the novella.)

From a marketing standpoint, this is a good way to keep the series alive while we await the next installment in 2009 (in hardcover no less.)

Enjoy!