Gretchen's Reviews > The Beloved

The Beloved was phenomenal! This was the story I needed it to be and I loved every second. The emotion, the healing, the drama, and the humor were exceptional. After the ending of Lassiter, this was the perfect follow-up. I loved the characters and the evolution of the world, and I’m thrilled about what’s been set up for future stories. This was a fantastic story in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

I loved Nate and Nalla and their journey of coming together. I felt so much for Nate, the pain he was in, and what he was working through. This male was fierce, gone was the young person I knew from before. I loved Bella, she’s a badass in her own right. I felt for her and where she was at with her relationship with her parents because of how protective Zsadist was. Nate and Nalla have their ups and downs and there are obstacles in their way, making for an intense ride getting to their HEA but it was so worth it.

Wrath is back and every time there was a scene with him, I swear I got choked up. There were so many incredible moments that made my heart feel full. I loved Zsadist and seeing how much he’s grown. He’s so strong yet scarred from his past. His love for his daughter is immense and like any parent, he has a hard time letting go. I adored a heart-to-heart he had with Vishous and I am delighted about what has been set up there. There was a large cast of characters and I loved all the mentions of Brothers and fighters. I loved meeting the kids who are now all grown up and getting glimpses of their personalities. I appreciated the time jump because seeing them as adults felt normal. I loved getting to know Bitty and who she might possibly be paired up with. There were some really funny moments as well. The banter between LW and Shuli had me cracking up, reminding me of the Brothers back in the day. It was priceless!

In true J. R. Ward fashion, several storylines and POVs are happening and I loved watching them build and develop, I was always looking forward to who I was going to hear from next. I loved the connections and interactions, all the building layers and working parts and I couldn’t wait for things to intersect. There were action-packed moments that had me holding my breath and emotional ones too, I found it all exciting!

This book consumed me and there was never a time I wanted to put it down. Times have changed, it's been 33 years, the world has changed, the kids have grown, and the original characters have grown too. Plus, there is the war and Lessening Society adding chaos. It all worked for me and I loved the new dynamics. I am beyond excited for more stories and to see how this world will continue to grow. I loved it all!

Complimentary copy received from Gallery Books.