A Guest Post from Author J. R. Ward on Blood Truth, the Final Chapter of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Legacy Series

The world of J. R. Ward‘s Black Dagger Brotherhood series is darkly thrilling and addictive, filled with characters that fans are voraciously eager to learn more about. As the fourth and final novel in her Black Dagger Legacy series hits B&N bookshelves, Ward was kind enough to tell us a bit about the story behind the quartet.
I am so excited for Blood Truth to be out! It is the story of Boone, the last of the Black Dagger Brotherhood trainees to get an HEA, and what happens as he goes on the hunt of a serial killer with Butch O’Neal, our former homicide cop, now full-fledged vampire and Brother. In the course of the investigation, Boone meets the female he is destined to be with, but as usual, things are not simple and he and Helania have to fight for their love—and fight to survive a madman!
Or… is it a madwoman? #nospoilers

This is the final book in the BDB Legacy series, and as such, it’s nice to revisit these novels and where they came from. This quartet was born out of two objectives: 1) I wanted to write the stories of the training class’s members, and show the fascinating journeys of these young males and females who are joining in the protection of the race; and 2) readers were asking for more on the original Brothers, and I needed to find a way to give them what they wanted.
A little more on the second part of things. Every one of the big BDB books has an HEA at the end, but that does not mean that the couple in question stop living. In my head, they are all continuing on in the world, fighting in the war, loving their mates, living in the mansion. There is so much going on, and so many things I want to show readers, but there is only so much I can fit into any given book—and there is an argument to be made that, in some of the books, I’ve overdone it with the subplots. The thing is, with the BDBverse as big as it is, and as vibrant and dramatic as it can be, the biggest challenge for any of the books, no matter the series, is how much can I show without losing the impact of the main story.

Thus, the BDB Legacy! In each of these books, an original Brother is highlighted. They are involved in the main plotline, and integral to it, and so it gives me a chance to update folks in an organic way. Each of these refocuses provides further insight into the original HEA and into the way that couple is evolving. Readers have commented again and again how wonderful it is to see favorite people returning—and I think this is more like we all are in real life. For the most part, people don’t just get married and fall off our radar screens. Even if we don’t see them face to face, or even if we lose touch, we still hear about them. I love being able to include readers into what’s going on in my head!
As always, I am so grateful to everyone who supports my books and loves the Brothers as much as I do! I really think people are going to be surprised by the twists and turns in Blood Truth—and I have to be honest. Vishous has the best line in the book. Hands down. But he wouldn’t have it any other way, true?
Happy Reading!
J.R.
Blood Truth is on B&N bookshelves now.