The King

A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 22 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

J.R. Ward's number-one New York Times best-selling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the king.…

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father's mantle - with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything - and everyone - at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she's unprepared for Wrath's response - or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?

©2014 J. R. Ward (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"J. R. Ward’s unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!” (New York Times best-selling author Suzanne Brockmann)

“Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic....The Brotherhood is the hottest collection of studs in romance. I can’t wait for the next one!” (New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight)

“Best new series I’ve read in years! Tautly written, wickedly sexy, and just plain fun.” (New York Times best-selling author Lisa Gardner)

Fantastic!

Loved it from beginning to end. Never a dull moment. Love these characters and love seeing the next chapter in their lives unfold. The Warden did it again! As always Jim F. narrations are fantastic!

Good story unnecessarily wordy

I have enjoyed this series of stories. I would recommend reading this conclusion. I had to skip portions of repetitive unnecessary wording though.
There is room for additional novels about other characters and I do look forward to those.

loved. amazing.

just when you don't think you could fall anymore I love with this series.......... this book makes you fall deeper in love with it.

I needed this book!!!

I needed this book! I forgot how much I missed Beth and Wrath. I loved how all of my favorite characters had parts in this that I did not even realize I had needed! JR gave me what I needed even if I did not think I wanted it. That is all.

I'm addicted!! I love this series!!

I have never had a series bring me to tears of joy and pain for the characters until now! I adore the characters and the creative unpredictable writing.

love the BDB

best book series ever! another great instalment in the series. this is my 3rd time through.

Bow Down to the King.

If you could sum up The King in three words, what would they be?

Wonderful, Funny, Amazing

What did you like best about this story?

J.R. Ward has an amazing ability to juggle several story lines at once but Wrath and Beth's story as always draws me in. Their love story in the middle of the craziness is heartwarming.

What about Jim Frangione’s performance did you like?

His voice always makes me want more of him. It made me smile every time he spoke the wonderful slang Ward does oh so well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No one moment, I found it impossible to stop listening. I just wanted to know what would happen next. Now that I'm done I can go to bed at a decent hour.

Any additional comments?

To know this author is to love her. If you are new to Ward try starting at the first book because this book dips into all the previous characters and if you are like me you will want to know why you should care about the other storylines flowing around the main. The 1st book: Dark Lover will be a good way for newbies to test the water to see if this series is your cup of tea. Vampires aren't for everyone. :-P

The King

I Loved it. One of my favorite books, next to Dark Lover. Great narration.

LONG LIVE THE KING.... & THE BDB

As a fan of the whole series I pre-ordered this, then counted the weeks, days, hours and minutes until I could finally listen to this much anticipated story and, although I was half-way through another book (which was good by the way), I stopped it knowing that, for me, a new BDB book was going to be epic..... and I was right.

There was the main story of Wrath, his roots, his fears and dreams and Beth's all consuming needs as she lost focus for just a short while but came back fighting, then there were so many sub romances, sub plots and new characters that, at times, you think your head's going to explode. Beth and Wrath's dilemma was so painful, touching and raw, his throne is both a curse and a joy which he eventually found out and he may be blind but he finally gets to see the bigger picture.

A lot of very emotional bitter-sweet torment and turmoil because of the ups and downs in all the romances, danger and threats made by old enemies, twists, turns and surprises and various visits through time to the 17th century to hear of the love and plight of the former Vampire King and a lot more was shared about the Shadow brothers and their lives. There were familiar well loved faces as well as new ones..... but always, through everything, The Brotherhood were there ready to support and rejoice in welcoming in the dawning of a new era.

Worth a credit? Wicked plans were thwarted, blood was spilled, revenge was sweet and love and bonds were deepened so, at the end of Chapter 76, after 22 hours of listening pleasure as the overall plot-line grew, morphed and moved forward, all I can safely say is YES it was well worth the credit, the sleepless nights and the lost hours in my shortened days.

That is how a book should be written!

We continue the story of the residents of Caldwell NY with this latest installment of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The beauty of these books is the world that we get to fall into, and dealing with the struggles of life that are familiar to us all. The approval, or lack thereof, of our lifestyles. From whom we choose to marry, or not, to the ramifications of our life choices and how those choices affect others. J.R Ward brings these struggles to the forefront in this epic novel.

We reconnected with all our favorites from Iam and Tres, to the chosen, the band of bastards, we even got more insight into Asail and Saxton. This story focuses on Beth and Wrath, and his Kingship. There are struggles and triumphs and all done without a nasty cliff hanger.

Wonderful series, wonderful world, cannot recommend enough! 22 hours of total emmersion into a far away place and an alternate reality. Well done!