Sammy’s review of Prisoner Of Night (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 16.5) by J.R. Ward
Paranormal Romance published by Gallery Books 07 Jan 19
A surprise short story in the Black Dagger Universe was a pleasant surprise. After Dearest Ivie, I was interested in more of the world surrounding the brotherhood. Unfortunately, I am left with more questions than answers. I do love these shorter stories before the big book comes out. After reading Prisoner Of Night, I decided to catch up in her BDB Legacy Series. I loved Blood Vow and I am moving on to Blood Fury, before Blood Truth comes out later this year. I am excited to read The Savior, because how many years have we all waited to get Muhrder’s story! After watching a Facebook live Q&A with J.R. Ward, I may be a little optimistic with future books. If you want all the details you can click on this LINK.
Ahmare is headed to Chalen the Conqueror’s compound to save her brother. Chalen is from the Bloodletter’s camp, he is brutal and ruthless. Chalen’s people had their larynx removed and they cannot speak. He’s cruel and very dangerous. Chalen also has Duran down in the dungeon. He’s been there since his father had him taken there more than twenty years ago.
Duran refuses to give up the location to his father’s compound. Chalen will not give up until he has that location. Duran’s father stole his beloved and he wants it back. Ahmare soon learns that negotiating with Chalen won’t be as easy as she might have thought. In order for her to get her brother released, she has to kill the person who stole drug money from him. She brings his head to him and wants her brother released, but, to her horror, that does not satisfy Chalen. For her brother’s freedom, she must return his beloved to him and he will provide the weapon for her to achieve that goal.
Duran is in a cold, wet cell when he senses Ahmare’s approach. His bonding scent is flooding his cell. Ahmare can’t believe what she is seeing. While she’s looking for guns, she comes across a beastly vampire locked behind bars. With his muscled body, long hair, and bearded face, she’s intrigued and scared out of her mind. The gates to his cell open and out walks Duran with an electric collar around his neck and very naked.
Ahmare and Duran are both having feelings for each other. Duran takes her to a safe house, which is owned by Nexxi, a shadow. Ahmare thinks they were an item. Couldn’t be further from the truth. They grab essentials and make their way to his bolt hole before they make their way to his father’s compound underground. It’s here where Ahmare and Duran get horizontal. Duran has issues, not only from his childhood, but from the prolonged torture at the hands of Chalen and his minions. Ahmare is aware of what’s happening, but he’s also trying to push her away too.
They make it into the underground lair and everyone is dead. It’s at this point we find out that Duran’s father is a leader of a cult. It’s also where we learn about his mother. It’s very heartbreaking and twisted. Duran finds the beloved and gives it to Ahmare. During these parts they find out that his father is still alive. He then attacks Ahmare and fails. Duran has been surviving on pure hatred and the thought of killing him. The underground is also set up to explode. As the bombs are ticking down, Ahmare and Duran are separated. She heads back to Chalen, since she knows her brother will never survive. There’s a huge face-off and things fall into place.
I loved the characters in this story. It’s a short story with big implications. I loved Nexxi, and she gets a HEA as well. What bothered me most was how did the King not know where Chalen the Conqueror was? What was actually going on over there, the fact that there is a penal colony, and I’m assuming that’s where bad vampires go. How did they not know there was a HUGE cult? I mean, these were very bad vampires. No one thought to pick up a phone and tip the brotherhood off? Which brings me to the end of the story and how Chalen gets his just desserts. Why then? He was old and dying. Why not take him out before all of this? I don’t want to give everything away, it just left me with more questions. Duran’s father gets his too. Then Duran changes his name to Theo. I don’t know? For fans of the BDB, I’m sure you’ll love the peek inside some civilians’ lives. For me, it just raised a lot of questions. If Wrath is King, who the hell is keeping everyone else in line?
Grade: C
Summary:
When Ahmare’s brother is abducted, there is nothing she won’t do to get him back safely. She is unprepared, however, for the lengths she will have to go to save his life. Paired with a dangerous but enticing prisoner, she embarks on an odyssey into another world.
Duran, betrayed by his father, imprisoned in a dungeon for decades, has survived only because of his thirst for vengeance. He has been biding his time to escape and is shocked to find an unlikely and temporary freedom in the form of a determined young female.
Battling against deadly forces and facing unforeseen peril, the pair are in a race to save Ahmare’s brother. As time runs out, and the unthinkable looms, even true love may not be enough to carry them through.
No excerpt available.
