Lover Arisen (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #20)

by J. R. Ward

Overview

True love brings a deadly threat to the Black Dagger Brotherhood in this sizzling new novel in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Possessed by the demon Devina, Balthazar is once again on the hunt for the Book of Spells—and fighting an undeniable attraction to a woman. As a thief, he has stolen a lot of things...but he never thought his heart would be taken by another. Especially not a human.

As a homicide detective, Erika Saunders knows there is something otherworldly going on in Caldwell, New York. Mutilated bodies that cannot be explained are all over her case list—and then there are her nightmares in which she’s hunted by shadows and captivated by a mysterious man who is both a suspect and a savior.

When Devina’s wish for true love is finally granted, Balthazar and Erika unwittingly become the gateway for the rebirth of an old enemy of the Brothers. Will the very thing that brings them together lead to the ultimate destruction of the Brotherhood? Or will they have to lose everything in order to save the race’s most sacred defenders?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982179991
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Series:	Black Dagger Brotherhood Series , #20
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	69,119
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

J.R. Ward is the author of more than sixty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than twenty million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-seven different countries. She lives in the south with her family.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Lover Arisen

"The romance between Balthazar and Erika is just one of many stories here, all exploring themes related to life, death, and immortality. Ward includes fan favorites Wrath and Vishous as part of the action... As always, it makes for a compelling, propulsive read. The twentieth Black Dagger Brotherhood book is true to form: characters you know and love embroiled in nonstop action." —Kirkus

"With Lover Arisen, the latest in J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood paranormal series, we get the story of Balthazar, a newer member of the brotherhood. But it is the reemergence of an old enemy and the heartbreaking sacrifice of a longtime fan favorite that leaves you stunned and facing a torturous wait for answers in the next book. It’s another thrilling entry in the long-running series." —Philadelphia Inquirer

Praise for J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood

"J.R. Ward's urban fantasy romance series is so popular, I don't think there's a reader today who hasn't at least heard of the Black Dagger Brotherhood." —USA Today

"Impressive." —The New York Times Book Review

"Frighteningly addictive." —Publishers Weekly

"J. R. Ward is the undisputed queen of her genre. Bar none. Long live the queen." —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

"Sharp, sexy, and funny." —The New York Review of Books

"J. R. Ward's unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!" —Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times bestselling author

"J. R. Ward is one of the finest writers out there—in any genre. She's in a league of her own." —Sarah J. Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Ward is a master of her craft." —New York Journal of Books

"Tautly written, wickedly sexy, and just plain fun." —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

04/02/2022

Erika Saunders is no stranger to tragedy. As the sole survivor of her own family's slaughter, she now works as a homicide detective to solve unspeakable murders. When her path crosses with that of the vampire Balthazar, she has no idea just how instrumental she will be in saving him from his own personal torment. Possessed by the sex harpy demon Devina, he dreads falling asleep, because it is in his subconscious that she takes control. Obtaining and using the Book of Spells seems to be the only way to gain freedom from his servitude, but will the sacrifices of those who truly love him be the real key that sets him free? VERDICT Fans of Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series will not be disappointed in this most recent addition (following Lover Unveiled). With subplots involving Lassiter, the fallen angel, and an evil legacy, this new installment is a steamy, primal page-turner.—Vicky M. Coffin

Library Journal

2022-02-08
A vampire tries to expel the demon who is possessing his body and trying to kill his mate.

Balthazar is a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the elite warriors who protect the vampire race from enemies both supernatural and human. He knows his mate is Detective Erika Saunders, a woman whose need to fight crime is driven by her own violent and tragic past. In Lover Unveiled (2021), the previous book in the series, the Brotherhood was convinced they had excised the demon Devina and her cursed Book of spells from the Earth. Balthazar has discovered the awful truth: Devina is alive, and any time he falls asleep, she is able to possess his body. When Devina discovers that Balthazar is in love with Erika, she uses the cursed Book of spells to call forth an evil being that will not only be her perfect mate, but who will also destroy Balthazar and Erika in the process. Readers who have stuck around through the previous 19 books in the series won’t be surprised at the sheer number of characters and stories stuffed into this one; at this point, the series has evolved into a long, continuing supernatural soap opera rather than stand-alone romance novels. However, the actual relationship between Erika and Balthazar is not even the most interesting or well-developed subplot. Their romance is just one of many stories here, all exploring themes related to life, death, and immortality. Ward includes fan favorites Wrath and Vishous as part of the action along with a dizzying roll call of characters from previous books. As always, it makes for a compelling, propulsive read.

The 20th Black Dagger Brotherhood book is true to form: characters you know and love embroiled in nonstop action.

Kirkus Reviews

Narrator Jim Frangione brings listeners back to a world in which fierce vampire warriors protect each other while living among humans in Caldwell, New York. Frangione’s deep voice is perfectly suited to bringing the characters to life. Vampire Balthazar has become possessed by demon Devina, a situation that prevents him from being with the human police officer Ericka, whom he loves. Frangione brings out Devina’s evil and adds touches of childlike petulance when she doesn’t get her way. Frangione’s powerful performance is well matched to the suspenseful story as old enemies return and listeners wonder if Balthazar and Ericka will be able to make a life together. S.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2022 - AudioFile