Bound and Unbound: A paranormal novella duology
Ali Hazelwood
The Chosen: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
by J.R. Ward
About this book
The Black Dagger Brotherhood returns with a pulse-pounding installment that pushes the boundaries of loyalty and forbidden desire. Xcor, the ruthless leader of the Band of Bastards, faces a gruesome execution for treason against the Blind King. However, his cold exterior hides a singular, haunting regret: his agonizing longing for Layla, a Chosen female who remains forever out of reach.
This masterclass in urban fantasy masterfully employs the enemies-to-lovers trope, forcing characters to navigate the treacherous divide between warring factions. Layla holds the only secret that can spare Xcor’s life, but revealing it risks everything she holds dear, including her role as a mother and her standing within the Brotherhood. Caught in a web of dark romance, she must decide if the man she loves is worth the destruction of the only family she has ever known.
J.R. Ward delivers a high-stakes narrative where the found-family dynamic is tested to its breaking point. As an old enemy resurfaces in Caldwell and divine mysteries unfold, the stakes rise to a fever pitch. If you crave intense paranormal romance defined by agonizing choices and soul-deep connections, this story of redemption and sacrifice is the perfect addition to your reading list.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B01N6F5SW9
Reader Reviews
April 17, 2017
\"And herein was the conundrum, Xcor thought behind his closed lids. The only possible way out of this deadly scenario was to reveal the love he'd found for a female that was not his, never had been, and was not e'er going to be. But he would not sacrifice the Chosen Layla for anyone or anything. Not even to save himself.\" FINAL DECISION: Layla and Xcor's romance brings to light a lot of discord and fractures in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world. Things are changing and this book demonstrates...
February 16, 2018
I'm marking the whole review as one big SPOILER since I don't recall which parts are genuine spoilers. If you haven't read the book, read at your own risk. S P O I L E R S A H E A D Where to start? Where to start? I have to say I was ticked off at Qhuinn for 90% of the book. I can understand his anger, but he took it way, way too far. He was his father on steroids, imo. I am glad that V called him on it. Not that it did any good. Qhuinn did redeem himself at the end of the book, somewhat. I...
October 23, 2017
5 stars is automatic for any book that keeps me up past midnight reading because I have to see what’s going to happen. I’m very fastidious about my beauty sleep. The Chosen was fairly fast paced with lots of emotional drama – like of the daytime TV variety. I can’t say that I liked all the characters; in fact I would characterize The Chosen as “the bag of jerks” installment as so many of the male characters were acting like ginormous misogynistic jerks. (In my head, I'm using another word in...
April 6, 2017
The Chosen is a thrilling, emotional, and thoroughly compelling ride that is nearly impossible to put down. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward is a long and complex one. At this point, this series isn’t one you can simply jump into without repeatedly asking yourself, “What the f*** is going on here?” Which makes this review futile for new fans, but a fun one for long-standing followers of these memorable brothers. To follow this series is to fall in love with a family and to...
April 8, 2017
First thing is first: In my opinion, this was one of the best of the BDB series so far. It reminded me of the beginning when the story was focused on the main characters. 1. There were still side stories, but the plot of them mostly tied into the main storyline of the novel. For example, there was lots of Blay and Quhinn, which I loved but their story was directly connected to the main story. There was some story involving the shAdoWs, though not connected to the main story, and I was okay with...
