Bound and Unbound: A paranormal novella duology
Ali Hazelwood
The Beast: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
by J.R. Ward
About this book
The Black Dagger Brotherhood is back with a heart-wrenching, high-stakes installment that delves deep into the soul of their most volatile warrior. Rhage, the fearsome beast whose appetites are matched only by his capacity for love, finds his world crumbling. Despite the comforts of his life with his beloved shellan, Mary, a paralyzing sense of insecurity and a devastating injury force him to confront the darkness he has long tried to tame.
As the Brotherhood prepares for a brutal confrontation with the Lessening Society, the lines between duty and desire begin to blur. This paranormal romance masterfully balances the intense, adrenaline-fueled action of vampire hunters at war with the tender, intimate journey of a couple fighting to save their bond. Mary is forced to navigate her own complex path of self-discovery, leaving readers to wonder if their love is strong enough to survive the shifting tides of their immortal lives.
J.R. Ward delivers a poignant exploration of devotion and vulnerability within a found-family dynamic that fans have cherished for years. Whether you are a longtime devotee or seeking a new obsession, this story offers a perfect blend of visceral thrills and deep, emotional resonance that defines the best of the genre.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B01AIQP6ZO
Reader Reviews
April 5, 2016
*** 6 Star Review *** I have been a Black Dagger Brotherhood fan since the first book, Dark Lover, released in 2005. I anxiously count down the months, days, and hours for each new release in this series. I have been on pins and needles waiting for The Beast to release because Rhage has always been my favorite brother. Readers met Rhage in the second book, Lover Eternal. He's the brother that carries a curse on his back. He chose to keep his curse when the Scribe Virgin allowed his mate, Mary,...
November 19, 2016
\"She was the watch on his wrist, the roast beef when he was starving, and the pitcher of lemonade when he was thirsty. She was his chapel and his choir, the mountain range to his wanderlust, the library for his curiosity, and every sunrise or sunset that ever was or would ever be.\" FINAL DECISION: I loved this book. Ward has done a great job creating a realistic conflict between Mary and Rhage which stays true to their story but accommodates the changes that have occurred with them and their...
November 20, 2016
Where to begin,there is just so much about this book I love. If you have read my other reviews of this series,you would know that Rhage and Mary are my fav. I have been begging for more of them for years,finally,the Beast has arrived and it is nothing short of amazing. I loves that Rhage and Mary dealt with a real issue that can come up in a marriage. As we know from book 2 in the series,Mary is unable to have children due to her sickness from back when she was mortal, and she finds herself...
November 20, 2025
I really enjoy this series, even though it seems to be never ending. Each book centers around one of the main characters in the Black Dagger Brotherhood (or sometimes one of their surroundings characters), but the main story that we get to follow through all the books is the re thread keeping them all together. The war between the BDB and the lessers is riveting, and the politics and history of this vampire world are very well written. This book centers on Rhage, and it was great to get to know...
April 8, 2016
The Beast is (drum roll) the 14th novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It is nothing like the last book in the series; perhaps Ms. Ward thought we deserved a gift after the sob-inducing The Shadows! There is much less violence, although the vampire/lesser fight which occurs early on is of the intense, spectacular and breath-holding type. The majority of the book is about relationships - mate to mate, parent to child, and child to parent - and the main focus is on the latest chapter in...
