For One Week, Recommend/Share:
For One Week, Recommend/Share:
Day 1: A song
Day 2: A picture
Day 3: A book/ebook/fanfic
Day 4: A site
Day 5: A youtube clip
Day 6: A quote
Day 7: Whatever tickles your fancy
I love to read. I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries.
A real treat is to find a writer who creates a new world and group
of characters who are interesting and varied. One of my favorite
series is The Black Dagger Brotherhood. It's by J. R. Ward and
currently has 12 books in the series. There is also a novella and
an insider's guide.
The first in the series is:
DARK LOVER
by J.R. Ward
Book One: Wrath's Story
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly
turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also
exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors,
defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies
more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood... The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth
Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes
to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood
and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that
threatens to consume them both…
The majority of characters are introduced in the first book.
Each character is fleshed out in their own book. I would love
for this series to become a movie series or a TV series.
At the beginning of each book there is a glossary of terms and proper
nouns. That almost caused me to avoid this series. Made me
wary that it might be too detailed a world to understand, but
it wasn't.
Love and honor in this world is very important. There are many
deaths in the series, but death is not always the end in this world.
Many have second chances, but not all of them.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND PROPER NOUNS
Black Dagger Brotherhood pr n. Highly-trained vampire warriors who
protect their species against the Lessening Society. As a result of
selective breeding within the race, Brothers possess immense
physical and mental strength as well as rapid healing capabilities.
They are not siblings for the most part and are inducted into the
Brotherhood upon nomination by the Brothers. Aggressive, self-reliant
and secretive by nature, they exist apart from civilians, having little contact
with members of the other classes except when they need to feed. They
are the subject of legend and the object of reverence within the vampire world.
blood slave n. Male or female vampire who has been subjugated to serve
the blood needs of another. The practice of keeping blood slaves has largely
been discontinued, though it has not been outlawed.
The Chosen n. Female vampires who have been bred to serve the Scribe Virgin.
. They are considered members of the aristocracy, though they are spiritually rather
than temporally focused. They have little or no interaction with males, but can be
mated at the Scribe Virgin’s direction to propagate their class. They have the ability
to prognosticate.
doggen n. Member of the servant class within the vampire world. Doggens have old,
conservative traditions about service to their superiors, following a formal code of dress
and behavior. They are able to go out during the day, but they age relatively quickly. Life
expectancy is approximately five hundred years.
The Fade pr n. Non-temporal realm where the dead reunite with their loved ones and
pass eternity.
First Family pr n. The king and queen of the vampires and any children they may have.
hellren n. Male vampire who has been mated to a female. Males may take more than
one female as mate.
leelan adj. A term of endearment loosely translated as 'dearest one'.
Lessening Society pr n. Order of slayers convened by the Omega for the purpose
of eradicating the vampire species.
lesser n. De-souled human who targets vampires for extermination as a member
of the Lessening Society. Lessers must be stabbed through the chest in order to
be killed, otherwise they are ageless. They do not eat or drink and are impotent.
Over time, their hair, skin and irises lose pigmentation until they are blonde,
blushless and pale-eyed. They smell like baby powder. Inducted into the Society
by the Omega, they retain a ceramic jar thereafter into which their heart was placed
after it was removed.
needing period n. Female vampire's time of fertility, generally lasting for two days
and accompanied by intense sexual cravings. Occurs approximately five years after
a female's transition and then once a decade thereafter. All males respond to some
degree if they are around a female in her need. It can be a dangerous time with conflicts
and fights breaking out between competing males, particularly if the female is not mated.
The Omega pr n. Malevolent, mystical figure who has targeted the vampires for extinction
out of resentment directed towards the Scribe Virgin. Exists in a non-temporal realm and
has extensive powers, though not the power of creation.
princeps n. Highest level of the vampire aristocracy, second only to members of the First
Family or the Scribe Virgin’s Chosen. Must be born to the title; it may not be conferred.
pyrocant n. Refers to a critical weakness in an individual. The weakness can be internal,
such as an addiction, or external, such as a lover.
rythe n. Ritual manner of assuaging honor granted by one who has offended another.
If accepted, the offended chooses a weapon and strikes the offender who presents
him or herself without defenses.
The Scribe Virgin pr n. Mystical force who is counselor to the king as well as the keeper
of vampire archives and the dispenser of privileges. Exists in a non-temporal realm and
has extensive powers. Capable of a single act of creation which she expended to bring
the vampires into existence.
shellan n. Female vampire who has been mated to a male. Females generally do not
take more than one mate due to the highly territorial nature of bonded males.
The Tomb pr n. Sacred vault of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Used as a ceremonial
site as well as a storage facility for the jars of lessers. Ceremonies performed there
include inductions, funerals and disciplinary actions against Brothers. No one may
enter except for members of the Brotherhood, the Scribe Virgin, or candidates for induction.
transition n. Critical moment in a vampire’s life when he or she transforms into an adult.
Thereafter, they must drink the blood of the opposite sex to survive and are unable to
withstand sunlight. Occurs generally in the mid-twenties. Some vampires do not survive
their transitions, males in particular. Prior to their transitions, vampires are physically weak,
sexually unaware and unresponsive, and unable to dematerialize.
vampire n. Member of a species separate from that of homo sapiens. Vampires must drink
the blood of the opposite sex to survive. Human blood will keep them alive, though the strength
does not last long. Following their transitions, which occur in their mid-twenties, they are unable
to go out into sunlight and must feed from the vein regularly. Vampires may not 'convert' humans
through a bite or transfer of blood, though they are in rare cases able to breed with the other species.
Vampires can dematerialize at will, though they must be able to calm themselves and concentrate
to do so and may not carry anything heavy with them. They are able to strip the memories of humans,
provided such memories are short term. Some vampires are able to read minds. Life expectancy is
indeterminate.
Source
Day 1: A song
Day 2: A picture
Day 3: A book/ebook/fanfic
Day 4: A site
Day 5: A youtube clip
Day 6: A quote
Day 7: Whatever tickles your fancy
I love to read. I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries.
A real treat is to find a writer who creates a new world and group
of characters who are interesting and varied. One of my favorite
series is The Black Dagger Brotherhood. It's by J. R. Ward and
currently has 12 books in the series. There is also a novella and
an insider's guide.
The first in the series is:
DARK LOVER
by J.R. Ward
Book One: Wrath's Story
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly
turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also
exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors,
defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies
more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood... The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth
Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes
to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood
and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that
threatens to consume them both…
The majority of characters are introduced in the first book.
Each character is fleshed out in their own book. I would love
for this series to become a movie series or a TV series.
At the beginning of each book there is a glossary of terms and proper
nouns. That almost caused me to avoid this series. Made me
wary that it might be too detailed a world to understand, but
it wasn't.
Love and honor in this world is very important. There are many
deaths in the series, but death is not always the end in this world.
Many have second chances, but not all of them.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND PROPER NOUNS
Black Dagger Brotherhood pr n. Highly-trained vampire warriors who
protect their species against the Lessening Society. As a result of
selective breeding within the race, Brothers possess immense
physical and mental strength as well as rapid healing capabilities.
They are not siblings for the most part and are inducted into the
Brotherhood upon nomination by the Brothers. Aggressive, self-reliant
and secretive by nature, they exist apart from civilians, having little contact
with members of the other classes except when they need to feed. They
are the subject of legend and the object of reverence within the vampire world.
blood slave n. Male or female vampire who has been subjugated to serve
the blood needs of another. The practice of keeping blood slaves has largely
been discontinued, though it has not been outlawed.
The Chosen n. Female vampires who have been bred to serve the Scribe Virgin.
. They are considered members of the aristocracy, though they are spiritually rather
than temporally focused. They have little or no interaction with males, but can be
mated at the Scribe Virgin’s direction to propagate their class. They have the ability
to prognosticate.
doggen n. Member of the servant class within the vampire world. Doggens have old,
conservative traditions about service to their superiors, following a formal code of dress
and behavior. They are able to go out during the day, but they age relatively quickly. Life
expectancy is approximately five hundred years.
The Fade pr n. Non-temporal realm where the dead reunite with their loved ones and
pass eternity.
First Family pr n. The king and queen of the vampires and any children they may have.
hellren n. Male vampire who has been mated to a female. Males may take more than
one female as mate.
leelan adj. A term of endearment loosely translated as 'dearest one'.
Lessening Society pr n. Order of slayers convened by the Omega for the purpose
of eradicating the vampire species.
lesser n. De-souled human who targets vampires for extermination as a member
of the Lessening Society. Lessers must be stabbed through the chest in order to
be killed, otherwise they are ageless. They do not eat or drink and are impotent.
Over time, their hair, skin and irises lose pigmentation until they are blonde,
blushless and pale-eyed. They smell like baby powder. Inducted into the Society
by the Omega, they retain a ceramic jar thereafter into which their heart was placed
after it was removed.
needing period n. Female vampire's time of fertility, generally lasting for two days
and accompanied by intense sexual cravings. Occurs approximately five years after
a female's transition and then once a decade thereafter. All males respond to some
degree if they are around a female in her need. It can be a dangerous time with conflicts
and fights breaking out between competing males, particularly if the female is not mated.
The Omega pr n. Malevolent, mystical figure who has targeted the vampires for extinction
out of resentment directed towards the Scribe Virgin. Exists in a non-temporal realm and
has extensive powers, though not the power of creation.
princeps n. Highest level of the vampire aristocracy, second only to members of the First
Family or the Scribe Virgin’s Chosen. Must be born to the title; it may not be conferred.
pyrocant n. Refers to a critical weakness in an individual. The weakness can be internal,
such as an addiction, or external, such as a lover.
rythe n. Ritual manner of assuaging honor granted by one who has offended another.
If accepted, the offended chooses a weapon and strikes the offender who presents
him or herself without defenses.
The Scribe Virgin pr n. Mystical force who is counselor to the king as well as the keeper
of vampire archives and the dispenser of privileges. Exists in a non-temporal realm and
has extensive powers. Capable of a single act of creation which she expended to bring
the vampires into existence.
shellan n. Female vampire who has been mated to a male. Females generally do not
take more than one mate due to the highly territorial nature of bonded males.
The Tomb pr n. Sacred vault of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Used as a ceremonial
site as well as a storage facility for the jars of lessers. Ceremonies performed there
include inductions, funerals and disciplinary actions against Brothers. No one may
enter except for members of the Brotherhood, the Scribe Virgin, or candidates for induction.
transition n. Critical moment in a vampire’s life when he or she transforms into an adult.
Thereafter, they must drink the blood of the opposite sex to survive and are unable to
withstand sunlight. Occurs generally in the mid-twenties. Some vampires do not survive
their transitions, males in particular. Prior to their transitions, vampires are physically weak,
sexually unaware and unresponsive, and unable to dematerialize.
vampire n. Member of a species separate from that of homo sapiens. Vampires must drink
the blood of the opposite sex to survive. Human blood will keep them alive, though the strength
does not last long. Following their transitions, which occur in their mid-twenties, they are unable
to go out into sunlight and must feed from the vein regularly. Vampires may not 'convert' humans
through a bite or transfer of blood, though they are in rare cases able to breed with the other species.
Vampires can dematerialize at will, though they must be able to calm themselves and concentrate
to do so and may not carry anything heavy with them. They are able to strip the memories of humans,
provided such memories are short term. Some vampires are able to read minds. Life expectancy is
indeterminate.
Source