Saturday, April 22, 2017

The Chosen by J.R. Ward


Title: The Chosen
Author: 
J.R. Ward
Series: 
Black Dagger Brotherhood #15
Publisher: 
Ballantine Books
Release Date: April 4, 2017




A scorching forbidden love threatens to tear a rift through the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J. R. Ward’s newest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, convicted of treason against the Blind King, is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds, he accepts his soldier’s fate, his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his: the Chosen Layla.

Layla alone knows the truth that will save Xcor’s life. But revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything Layla holds dear—even her role of mother to her precious young. Torn between love and loyalty, she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love. Yet even if Xcor is somehow granted a reprieve, he and Layla would have to confront a graver challenge: bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war, desolation, and death.

As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell, and the identity of a new deity is revealed, nothing is certain or safe in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, not even true love . . . or destinies that have long seemed set in stone.






SPOILERS AND RANT AHEAD - PLEASE DON'T READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED!



AGAIN SPOILERS!





Where do I begin with what made me mad reading The Chosen?

Maybe all the jerks. And let me tell you, there were a few of them. 

Let me start with the biggest one of them all:

Qhuinn....he was a major jerk. I'm blaming J.R. Ward for hating him right now. She is 100% at fault. He not only insulted and denigrated Layla but he threatened to take away her children. If that wasn't enough for me to hate him......

-He discharged a weapon in his room where his children were.
-He couldn't look at his own daughter "because she looks like her mother" so all his pride and attention went towards his male son. 
-He went against a direct order from his King

If that wasn't enough to kick him out of the mansion and the BDB, I don't know what is. 
Yes, did he apologize at the end, but for me, IT WAS TOO LATE. 
I still can't believe the nasty things that came out of his mouth every time he talked. I have no idea why one of the other brothers didn't punch him. I sure wanted to do it. 
I don't think I can ever see him as the Qhuinn I rooted for some many books ago. Blay should find a new mate IMO. 

Title to Jerk# 2 goes to BDB brother Tohrment. His behavior towards Layla was despicable just like Qhuinn. He also disregarded a direct order from his King. The loss of his shellan Welsie doesn't give him a pass to be an idiot. He sure as hell doesn't make Autumn feel the love by moping around for his first shellan. Don't get me wrong I loved Welsie but I can't tolerate him treating Autumn like an afterthought. 

Last but not least, jerk #3 goes to Vishous. After everything you and Jane have gone through now you are not sure about your feelings for her? Are you a MORON? Did the tobacco destroy your brain? I'm not sure where Ward is going with this but I hope he doesn't disappoint me like Qhuinn did. 

Now to the things I loved about this book:

I'm over the moon with Layla and Xcor finally getting together. It has been a hard and curvy road but they are finally where they were meant to be. Xcor gaining a family made me giddy with happiness. After all, the guy has had a very tough life and deserves some happy times in his future. 

“May I enter your bedroom, female?”

Tohr was able to redeem himself in my eyes and it's going to be interesting going forward to see how learning he has a brother changes him from a revenge-seeking-fool to learning to be a sibling. I loved when Layla told him what she thought of him and what would Welsie think about his behavior if she was still alive. She was right. His Welsie would have been appalled. I just hope he starts treating Autumn better.

Wrath was perfect in this book. He did what he needed to do and he accepted how the Bastards pledged their alliance to him. He was a true king and as a King sometimes you have to remind your subjects to behave, right Vishous?

“The King’s hand shot out so fast the eye could barely track it, and somehow, even without sight, he got the trajectory right, clamping a hold on the throat of his fighter. He didn’t even look in Vishous’s direction, his focus remaining on Xcor.In response, Vishous didn’t defend himself, even as he was forced to gasp for breath, his goateed jaw dropping open.“Don’t you love it when people know their places,” Wrath said to Xcor tightly. 

I thought Blay did the right thing when he left Qhuinn. If he didn't, Qhuinn could always make him feel like he was not a father to those children. I understand why he went back to Qhuinn but he should have made him suffer a little longer, just on principle. 

Gaining the Bastards as allies was a great play by Ward. The Bastards are all going to be interesting to get to know better. I'm thinking more books are coming. You feel me?

The women were all great as they banded to help Layla. My hat goes to them for showing their power as a unit. 

I can tell that Throe is going to cause a lot of trouble with his little magic book. Does this mean the baby powder is finally going away? 

Lastly, I have to mention how much I have come to love Lassiter. I love him. He has been so important in so many books and he is only getting better. I hope his book is EPIC, just like he is. 

the boss was here.” 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs



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