Review: The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12) by J.R. Ward

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling 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?

My Review:

There is a lot happening in The King by J. R. Ward!

Wrath "The Blind King" is drowning under the pressure of ruling his people and his memories of the past. Wrath's shellan, Beth, wants more time with Wrath away from the pressures he's facing. But Wrath is trying to figure out what the Band of Bastards is doing, and where the glymera fits in.

Beth spends time with Layla in the hopes that her needing will come. Beth secretly wishes for Wrath's baby. Wrath and Beth argue about Beth's needing and desire for a child.

Meanwhile, Assail searches for Sola and comes up empty. Trez is doing everything he can to be undesirable to s'Hibe Queen. Trez suffers from debilitating migraines which worry iAm. Trez is willing to admit he's attracted to Chosen Selene, but knows that he can't have her.

John Matthew suffers another series of seizures by being near Beth. John Matthew makes an uncanny wording in the Old Language that worries Wrath and the rest of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Saxton discovers a plot to dethrone Wrath because of his mating to Beth who is half human and half vampire. The glymera proclamation relieves Wrath of the throne unexpectedly, giving Wrath the freedom he craves. What changes will Wrath make now? Will Wrath and Beth come to understanding? What role will Saxton play in helping the king? What will Trez do now? Will Assail find Sola? Your answers await you in The King.

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I thought The King was a return to the earlier Black Dagger Brotherhood books, but instead, we get Wrath and Beth having problems and no real answers for either of them.

I found the sequence looking at Wrath's father as interesting because at first I thought it was Wrath "The Blind King" until the mention of Ahgony. I liked learning more about Trez and iAm’s history and background. I'm looking forward to finding out if Sola will return to Assail. I will definitely continue to read this series.

The King features:

• erotic themes
• oral sex
• paranormal romance
• suspense
• angst
• alpha male
• mystery
• vampire
• magic

Rating: 4 Kisses