Claimed

The Lair of the Wolven, Book 1

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber wolves - and getting caught in a deadly trap herself....

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project - and becomes a target. 

One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia's life in the forest and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious and someone she instinctively wants to trust. But is he hiding something?

As the stakes get higher and one of Lydia's colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia's reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love...or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?

©2021 J. R. Ward (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic." (Angela Knight) 

"Hot, sexy, unique, intriguingly wicked." (Christine Feehan) 

Claimed?

Although I love JR Ward's books, this isn't my favorite. It's very disjointed, and it seems only to be setting the scene for a future story. Having said that, I have better hopes for the next book.

Just perfect

Very well written, surprising and narrated. I look forward to hearing the next one soon.

No. 1 BDB FAN.. BUT I’M ON THE FENCE WITH THIS

I love JRW.. especially her Black Dagger Brotherhood which I’ve greedily followed from the start so any new book of hers I’m going to either preorder or ‘one click’ as soon as I can.. however, I’m sadly on the fence with this book. Animal Researcher/Behaviourist Lydia works for Wolf Study Project - a non profit organisation studying wolves at the wildlife preserve but someone is poisoning the wolves.. and she’s got a good idea who it is. There’s a chain of high class Hotels that’s building a new one close by and passionate Lydia is emotionally invested to protect the wolves.. and to stop the deaths. Proof.. none, determination.. high, missing Boss.. one, suspicions.. growing by the day.. and secrets.. oh there’s plenty of them. Lydia’s attraction and attitude to the sexy drifter/WSP’s new very temporary Groundsman is instant.. but she resists.. resists.. resists.. resists.. crumples.. and eventually caves. As for Daniel.. well he’s a mystery man with secrets and revelations I just couldn’t possibly share.. but the sands of time has started for both of them.

This is a slow-build romance and a missing person/murder-mystery plot which simmers for quite a while dropping drama slowly revealing the concealed and, as it did, there were parts I liked and parts that were just “meh“. The who, what and why is forefront and the sweet denial between Daniel and Lydia runs alongside it as Lydia searches for answers and Daniel protects what he’s not there to protect. The book has twists and surprises and, although it’s not the Brotherhood’s story, Xhex, John Matthew and a few others make appearances and, as the plot weaves its web of suspicion, I’m sure these invested Vamps will materialize again in the next tbc Wolven book. I don’t think you need to have read/listened to the BDB books prior to this.. or to book 8 Lover Mine which is John Matthew and Xhex’s story.

Worth a credit? Sorry, I’m undecided.. I thought it’s a good base to build the continuing Wolven series on and, even though the book just has a happy-ish for now tbc ending, it failed to hook me in and I’m just not invested enough to see where the next book goes. I know I’m comparing it to the BDB, to the intensity, banter and style of writing but I just can’t help it and it may be better NOT to have previously followed the delicious Vampires. Jim Frangione IS the voice that brings the BDB to life and I love him in that series.. but sadly I just didn’t love his dual POV narration in this.

Utterly consuming

As always, JRWard finishes the the story on a cliff hanger leaving you wanting to know more. Although the story starts off slowish, the plots are so cleverly interwoven keeping you captivated and integrated as to the outcome. I definitely can't wait for book 2 to reveal more of this story.

stay with it!

I'm a massive BDB fan having read the books around 4 times. I really struggled to remain absorbed in this book. its not on a parr with the main books. it took the last couple of chapters to come together and I will read the next one. to be honest I want more of the main characters from BDB because they're who I fell in love with but I guess in most respects their stories have been told. there seems to be alot of off shoots just using the BDB franchise rather than them being about the BDB themselves

Fabulous and gripping

I loved it, took a bit to get going, but once committed, i was gripped!

A great new JR Ward series

My favourite books ever are the Black Dagger brotherhood series so I really enjoyed Claimed and I’m really looking forward to the next episode of the story.
I do like audible because it enables me to do two things at once, which is always useful. Jim Frangione, however, despite being an excellent narrator gets somewhat on my nerves with the way he pronounces some words. “Who” and “what” for example sound very upper class or “posh” English. I’m from the UK and I find it annoying.
I love JR Ward and will continue to buy her books but probably on kindle so that I can imagine the voices of the characters myself.

no ending

not up to usual Black Dagger standard, an sequel much! own nearly all Black Dagger books won't buy this

Hmmm... Not positively surpriced

As a long time fan of J. R. Ward I had high expectations that unfortunately weren't met in this book. Without writing any spoleirs, the book started well, but then got "muddy" and now that the book is done, I'm not quite sure what it even was about. This has never happened before with any of her books and I'm very dissapointed.
Hope to grasp the next book (and story) in the series better.

Vampires now Werewolves

A great read that was over all too soon. The link with the Black Dagger Brotherhood is what made it special for me. Not sure I would have liked the wolf theme so much otherwise. Hope it's not too long a wait for part 2.

Not sure

Huge JRW fan but this one didn’t grab me and the flurry at the end was too little too late.