Paranormal
![J. R. Ward - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001H6OGQA.jpg)
Lassiter (21) (The Black Dagger Brotherhood series)
Destiny, duty, and desire clash in this epic new novel in J.R. Ward's #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series...
Lassiter, the fallen angel, is too good at the savior business. In his new role overseeing the fates of all vampires, he's influenced outcomes he shouldn't have-so the Creator is calling him home. But the angel has a reason to stay in Caldwell. He's bonded with a mysterious female who seemed to appear from out of nowhere...and has powers that defy all reason.
Rahvyn is well aware that she doesn't belong in the present. And she never intended to stay, for her true place is in the past. Lassiter proves to be undeniable, however, and she lets herself fall for the angel-until a secret he's been keeping comes out and she fears that for him, it's not about love, but duty.
As the Omega's son reestablishes the Lessening Society, and the Brotherhood must resume the deadly war, an unfathomable tragedy occurs. In the aftermath, Rahvyn has to decide whether to stay and help-or save herself from an immortal heartbreak she knows will crush her very soul...
Lassiter, the fallen angel, is too good at the savior business. In his new role overseeing the fates of all vampires, he's influenced outcomes he shouldn't have-so the Creator is calling him home. But the angel has a reason to stay in Caldwell. He's bonded with a mysterious female who seemed to appear from out of nowhere...and has powers that defy all reason.
Rahvyn is well aware that she doesn't belong in the present. And she never intended to stay, for her true place is in the past. Lassiter proves to be undeniable, however, and she lets herself fall for the angel-until a secret he's been keeping comes out and she fears that for him, it's not about love, but duty.
As the Omega's son reestablishes the Lessening Society, and the Brotherhood must resume the deadly war, an unfathomable tragedy occurs. In the aftermath, Rahvyn has to decide whether to stay and help-or save herself from an immortal heartbreak she knows will crush her very soul...
Editorial Reviews
"Ward's latest in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Lover Arisen, 2022) has it all-danger, sex, violent action, swoon-worthy romance, and an ending that will leave readers reeling. Seriously." --Booklist
"A shocking twist at the end displays Ward's willingness to boldly reinvent the long-running series, leaving open fascinating new pathways for future books." --Kirkus
"A shocking twist at the end displays Ward's willingness to boldly reinvent the long-running series, leaving open fascinating new pathways for future books." --Kirkus
Readers Top Reviews
Judith G.Phyllis B.l
The book we’ve been waiting for so long is here and it didn’t disappoint. Our favorite Angel got his HEA and we got new characters for more books to come. The end had me sad mad and crying because how dare she!! How dare she does this to our favorite vampire ((I know I know. No spoilers)) but seriously. How dare you JR!! I was ready to stop reading any book after this one lol. Still, after all the suffering we got the best ending for this beautiful book.
Angie
J.R. Ward always takes me on an emotional Rollercoaster with every BDB book. I would recommend reading the series from the beginning including The Fallen Angel books. I really did try to savor reading this and stretched it out for 5 days considering I did most of my reading at work I had to stop from time to time to actually get stuff done. Now to watch my hair turn grayer waiting for the next installment.
Cathyb3003
Loved this book!!! It seems so long waiting for it but it was well worth the wait. The characters are so clear and engaging. The story line excellent. Loved the way it ended - it didn't! I thought the series was coming to an ending I didn't want. I can't wait to see where it goes from here and I hope it doesn't take too long for #22. My problem is I start reading this series and I don't stop - it goes too fast or I read too fast!?. Thank you J.R. for another great read!!!
M. Denny
WOW!!!!! Warden, you have done it again! This book has to be my most favorite book (or close to it) so far. Ward takes us on two major story lines in this book and it seems just as one story peaks, the other story gets you reaching for tissues. This happens a few times. I will not give any spoilers here but I will say keep tissues handy toward the end of the book. Something very extraordinary happens that you never saw coming. You have got to read this book for yourself. I just hope the next book comes along quickly.
Jo-Ann Falcon
To live in J.R. Ward's mind when the BDB talks to her would be a gift beyond measure. This is the best book (after Dark Lover, which brought me into the BDB world) ever and the opening of a new BDB world. Lassiter is front and center but, as Ward has said, Wrath and Beth face something they never imagined they would face. I must admit my favorite Brother is Wrath, yes, above Z and all others. I read the final pages with an open mouth and tears in my eyes and I will be going back to reread it again. From the beginning to the end, it is a page turner and you won't want to put it down. Thank you, Warden, for bringing this amazing world to life for us all, and readers - this is a must read. Go get your copy now! You won't regret it!
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter One CHAPTER ONE
11287 Gordon Memorial Parkway
Caldwell, New York
Does this make my ass look big?"
As the question was tossed out all casual, like it made any damned sense, Eddie Blackhawk opened his mouth to answer. Then he shook his head. "I'm not sure how to respond to that."
"Come on." His best friend, Adrian Vogel, motioned through the window of the gray-and-black Mini Cooper. "Be honest."
For a split second, an image of the guy looking up with expectation caught and held in Eddie's mind, a fishhook memory that was unnecessary after the centuries they'd spent together: Ad was a hard-core handsome type, all the Hugh Jackman anyone could want in the tall and dark department, just paired up with a Claire's boutique's worth of silver piercings on the trailheads of his nose, his lower lip, his outer ears. He'd shaved his head recently-because he'd bought a Manscaped trimmer on account of the Pete Davidson ad and he didn't have anything else to shave-and his hair was already growing back in, a shadow over his skull. His clothes were black and so was his jacket. So were his weapons, although like his naughty bits, they were covered.
"Hello?" the other fallen angel prompted. "What do you think of me and the car?"
"I'm amazed you can fit your posterior region in it." Eddie glanced around the wilted dealership. "Why are we here again?"
"Ass." Adrian got out, his heavily muscled body expanding to its customary height and width like it was reinflating after a vacuum-packing. "You can curse, you know. It's not going to kill you."
Considering they were both immortals, the subject of what could unalive them was moot-as was any practical opinion about this shoebox-sized toy that was being marketed as roadworthy. And while Eddie glanced around for what felt like the hundredth time, he would have appreciated an answer to his own question: What the hell were they doing in this place? Between the fake wood paneling, the faded pictures of eighties-era cars going all airborne around tight turns, and the for-sale stock that looked like candidates for parts harvesting, he felt like they'd been sucked back four decades and Kate Bush should be piped in as a new release, not as a throwback soundtrack on Netflix.
Then again, they'd made their deal with God, hadn't they. And with all the progress they hadn't been making over the last three years on their mission, why not end up here? It was no more directed or random than any other place in Caldwell.
"Hi," a quiet voice said, "can I answer some questions about the Mini for you?"
Eddie's eyes shifted over and then had to move down, way down. The brunette woman who had approached was barely over five feet tall, and given her air of exhaustion, he guessed her age was anywhere between twenty-five and forty. Like the other salespeople, she was wearing a gold plaid suit jacket over her slacks, but the thing was a tent on her, to the point where she'd rolled up the sleeves.
"I think we're good," Eddie murmured. "Thanks, though."
She reached up and tapped the safety pin that was holding the right side of her glasses together-as if she were worried that like the screw it replaced, the thing was going to fail on her.
"Well, if you need anything, I'm-"
"I got this, Steph."
A man with a porn mustache, a full plaid suit-not just the jacket-and a hockey-player elbow pushed her out of the way. "Bud James, how we doing? I'm the owner, you've seen me on TV."
A proud finger swung around to a life-sized cutout of himself. Which had clearly been slimmed down with filters. "That's me, your buddy in the car business. Nice suit, right? Great car, right? Let's take it for a test drive."
Eddie tilted to the side. The woman who'd been moved out of the way was backing off, her soft-soled shoes squeaking on the scuffed blue and white floor tile. As she tugged at her jacket, she took a deep breath and faced away across the showroom's collection of buffed-up beaters. Another couple was coming through the door and she hitched her shoulders before intercepting them.
"How we doin'?" Bud James put his face in Eddie's. "So how about a test drive."
Ad, who'd been circling the Mini like he wanted to date it, came over, and for a split second, you had to wonder whether Bud was going to have a problem with all the Goth.
Naaah. Bud didn't seem to mind. Then again, the guy would probably sell cars to a demon if they had the cash or credit.
"No reason to test-drive, I'll take it."
Bud smiled like a billboard and called ove...
11287 Gordon Memorial Parkway
Caldwell, New York
Does this make my ass look big?"
As the question was tossed out all casual, like it made any damned sense, Eddie Blackhawk opened his mouth to answer. Then he shook his head. "I'm not sure how to respond to that."
"Come on." His best friend, Adrian Vogel, motioned through the window of the gray-and-black Mini Cooper. "Be honest."
For a split second, an image of the guy looking up with expectation caught and held in Eddie's mind, a fishhook memory that was unnecessary after the centuries they'd spent together: Ad was a hard-core handsome type, all the Hugh Jackman anyone could want in the tall and dark department, just paired up with a Claire's boutique's worth of silver piercings on the trailheads of his nose, his lower lip, his outer ears. He'd shaved his head recently-because he'd bought a Manscaped trimmer on account of the Pete Davidson ad and he didn't have anything else to shave-and his hair was already growing back in, a shadow over his skull. His clothes were black and so was his jacket. So were his weapons, although like his naughty bits, they were covered.
"Hello?" the other fallen angel prompted. "What do you think of me and the car?"
"I'm amazed you can fit your posterior region in it." Eddie glanced around the wilted dealership. "Why are we here again?"
"Ass." Adrian got out, his heavily muscled body expanding to its customary height and width like it was reinflating after a vacuum-packing. "You can curse, you know. It's not going to kill you."
Considering they were both immortals, the subject of what could unalive them was moot-as was any practical opinion about this shoebox-sized toy that was being marketed as roadworthy. And while Eddie glanced around for what felt like the hundredth time, he would have appreciated an answer to his own question: What the hell were they doing in this place? Between the fake wood paneling, the faded pictures of eighties-era cars going all airborne around tight turns, and the for-sale stock that looked like candidates for parts harvesting, he felt like they'd been sucked back four decades and Kate Bush should be piped in as a new release, not as a throwback soundtrack on Netflix.
Then again, they'd made their deal with God, hadn't they. And with all the progress they hadn't been making over the last three years on their mission, why not end up here? It was no more directed or random than any other place in Caldwell.
"Hi," a quiet voice said, "can I answer some questions about the Mini for you?"
Eddie's eyes shifted over and then had to move down, way down. The brunette woman who had approached was barely over five feet tall, and given her air of exhaustion, he guessed her age was anywhere between twenty-five and forty. Like the other salespeople, she was wearing a gold plaid suit jacket over her slacks, but the thing was a tent on her, to the point where she'd rolled up the sleeves.
"I think we're good," Eddie murmured. "Thanks, though."
She reached up and tapped the safety pin that was holding the right side of her glasses together-as if she were worried that like the screw it replaced, the thing was going to fail on her.
"Well, if you need anything, I'm-"
"I got this, Steph."
A man with a porn mustache, a full plaid suit-not just the jacket-and a hockey-player elbow pushed her out of the way. "Bud James, how we doing? I'm the owner, you've seen me on TV."
A proud finger swung around to a life-sized cutout of himself. Which had clearly been slimmed down with filters. "That's me, your buddy in the car business. Nice suit, right? Great car, right? Let's take it for a test drive."
Eddie tilted to the side. The woman who'd been moved out of the way was backing off, her soft-soled shoes squeaking on the scuffed blue and white floor tile. As she tugged at her jacket, she took a deep breath and faced away across the showroom's collection of buffed-up beaters. Another couple was coming through the door and she hitched her shoulders before intercepting them.
"How we doin'?" Bud James put his face in Eddie's. "So how about a test drive."
Ad, who'd been circling the Mini like he wanted to date it, came over, and for a split second, you had to wonder whether Bud was going to have a problem with all the Goth.
Naaah. Bud didn't seem to mind. Then again, the guy would probably sell cars to a demon if they had the cash or credit.
"No reason to test-drive, I'll take it."
Bud smiled like a billboard and called ove...
