Orphaned child + childless couple trying to reconnect…hmm, this isn’t predictable at all. Mary, however, has become super attached to an orphaned girl, Bitty, and uses Rhage’s beast curse to save him so that she can stay with the girl. Rhage has a brush with death, but he’s not freaked because he and Mary have an agreement that when Rhage dies, Mary, an immortal human, will self-sacrifice to be with him in the afterlife and everything will be perfect. Mary’s become consumed by her work as a therapist at the vampire race’s women’s shelter while Rhage’s work with the Brotherhood has kept him busy, and he’s been feeling melancholy, which is totally out of character. So, Rhage and Mary have been together for a couple years at this point, and they’ve become distant outside of naked cuddle time. Usually couples in a series are one and done, with small cameos later on, so I’m liking these glimpses of making the HFN a HEA. This is the second book featuring Rhage and Mary there seems to be a move to revisit earlier couples, both in the main BDB series and the spinoff, Black Dagger Legacy. Now onto what we’re here for – The Beast. That’s right – in a moment of questionable sanity, I decided to binge read the remaining nine books before taking on this review (I don’t recommend doing this – remember kids, everything in moderation). Then I remembered that I’d taken a break from the series way back in book #5.ĭid I mention The Beast is book #14 in the series? I’ve wanted to read The Beast for a while, so the RITA Challenge was the perfect reason to finally get to it. I rarely go for paranormals, but they’re the exception. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from…įull disclosure: I like the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities-and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world…and Mary’s. But Rhage can’t understand-or control-the panic and insecurity that plague him…Īnd that terrifies him-as well as distances him from his mate. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself…įor Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect-or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable.

The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The Beast by J.R. Ward