4.5 stars
As with many of the BDB books this one took me a bit to get my bearings with the multiple points of view and new characters... and this one also includes very old flashbacks. Rhage fans will be thrilled to get a lot of this brother both in present and the very distant past along with Darius.

Nyx is a vampire in search of her missing sister and just got an unexpected clue to where the underground prison she might have been taken to. So she is determined to go on her own rescue mission. She is tough, determined, and smart, but also stubborn and reckless.

The Jackal has been imprisoned for over a hundred years. He has lost any hope, faith, or understanding of love he previously had. He has been forced to do his job in the prison and is always being watched. But now as he finds Nyx as an intruder he has to make a decision about what to do with her. And that spark of attraction is something he was not sure he would ever feel again.

This underground world is intriguing. There are rules, consequences, suspense, and danger. It is raw, violent, and oppressive. There seems to be no way out and no hope. But this bad-a** woman comes in and shakes it all up. She and Jack have chemistry and a fast connection, but they are definitely not in a setting that will allow much time or opportunity to explore much of that. Jack, and fellow prisoners, Kane, Lucan, Mayhem, and Apex find themselves on an unexpected mission right along with her. And life as they knew it, will never be the same.

Once I got into the swing of things with the various points of view, I got more and more intrigued by this new setting and story. There is action, suspense, danger, desire, and plenty of twists and turns. There are layers of the story to be uncovered and plenty of surprises along the way. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to the very very old brotherhood, Pre-King Wrath days...it gives more insight on how far the Brotherhood has become. I love this group and their sense of family and honor.

This is listed as book one in the spin-off Prison Camp books, I am not sure where it will be going from here, but I am in.

**Note: Blog and social media Links will be updated on release date

First and foremost I want to acknowledge the dedication by Ward to the essential workers during COVID-19. I agree with Warden. And join her in THANKS.

Who do we get to spend time with this go-round? Nyx and The Jackal equal YES, YES, YES! Smart, skilled, and powerful is the best way to describe this new duo. They are a fabulous addition to the BDB world.

Rhage also plays a big part in this one. Readers are going to get a nice surprise with heavily added snippets of the past as well. A glimpse back in time that adds to the current timeline. It had me reading with bated breath. Soooo many past and present plot twists and reveals. (WELL FREAKIN DONE, WARDEN)

Oh! I would be remiss to not mention the introduction of this Prison Camp band of brothers. The ebb and flow of their comradery along with the jovial banter adds so much. And to be honest, it's a hallmark of J.R. Wards writing style and character traits that she puts into her books. It’s why I read them.

Another FIVE STAR read from the powerhouse that is JR Ward
~Tanja

4.5 Stars, HJ Recommended Read!

In The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp #1) by J.R. Ward, It has been close to fifty years since vampire Nyx’s older sister was imprisoned in the glymera’s underground camp and yet Nyx refuses to give up hope that her sister could still be alive. So when she unexpectedly finds one of the hidden entrances into the prison, Nyx’s mission is clear: find out if her sister is alive, and if so, bring her home. But her plans soon change. Once in the underground tunnels, she meets The Jackal. A vampire who has been imprisoned for nearly a century but who is surprisingly kind–and handsome. Their teamwork to find Nyx’s sister leads them into danger as well as learning secrets she never could have dreamed of.

When The Jackal came upon the gorgeous and feisty vampire in the tunnels he was shocked. Having been in the prison for nearly a century, he never thought he would once again converse with a civilian. But once he learns of Nyx’s mission, The Jackal is compelled to help her–whether they find her sister or find closure for her family. His reaction to Nyx takes him by surprise, though. And he finds himself wishing he could leave the prison to start a life with the female. Dangerous thoughts, those. Because even though Nyx is worth any cost, The Jackal is tied to the prison in a way that doesn’t allow him to plan an escape. So instead he’ll have to do his best to ensure Nyx makes it out alive.

An exciting first book in the new Black Dagger Brotherhood spin-off series, The Jackal was gritty, action-packed and full of the bittersweet moments, laughs and in this case, tender romance that fans love from J.R. Ward.

I skipped over any kind of trigger warning because if you’ve read Ward’s BDB books then you know what you’re in for already. The Jackal was no exception to the rule. It was gory in places and flirted with some darker themes where this was set in an underground prison, so you can imagine what that entailed. But like you would expect from Ward, there were times of levity as well as camaraderie as only she can write it. That included Nyx and The Jackal at the prison and as we followed Rhage’s century-old flashbacks and during the present day with him at the BDB mansion. (Including a few stolen father/daughter moments between Rhage and Bitty! Sigh…)

It seems like anything I mention about the plot itself will be a spoiler where there were so many twists and turns as the details were laid out by Ward. Now I know there were some fans who were more interested in getting back to the Brothers in the BDB who still need their story–or more of their story–explored. But I really enjoyed this spin-off and it seems like it added another layer of depth to the complex world Ward has built.

Our main characters were mainly Nyx, our absolute kickass heroine, and The Jackal, a brave, thoughtful man who had been dealt a very bad hand in life. Both were vampires. But they had led very different lives…and not just where The Jackal had been imprisoned for a hundred or so years.

Nyx’s family was everything to her. Something the Jackal hadn’t really had in his life, that sense of love and togetherness. Although it was something he had longed for. So feeling such a strong attraction and connection to Nyx was a revelation for The Jackal and it made it that much more complicated with him seemingly unable to escape with her. And when Nyx’s world was shaken to the core with the truth she uncovered in the prison, The Jackal showed his courageous nature, doing what he could to help his newly found beloved.

World-shattering secrets. Loyalty tested in shocking ways. New beginnings for some and a rejoining of lives for others. The Jackal had me absolutely captivated and unwilling to let go of these characters even after the final page was read. Definitely recommended.

Readers looking for a new thrilling paranormal romance read with just the right amount of magic and action should pick up J.R. Ward’s THE JACKAL [Gallery Books, August 18, 2020]. In an exciting new companion series to her ever-popular Black Dagger Brotherhood collection, Ward creates a tale of adventure, love, heartbreak, and betrayal with unforeseen twists to keep readers turning the pages.

The first in the spin-off Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp series, THE JACKAL follows the story of Nyx, a young vampire who has been trying to hold her fractured family together since her sister Janelle’s unlawful incarceration fifty years ago. After a car crash that left Nyx and her sister, Posie in debt to the young man they collided with, along with learning her grandfather’s long-kept secret shortly after, Nyx decides to take matters into her own hands; she has to go to the underground prison where her sister has been kept and bring her out alive. When Nyx meets a massive warrior named The Jackal and finds herself becoming closer and closer to him, her would turns upside down---and she needs to make it right again.

When reading THE JACKAL, there seems to be an ominous fog shrouding each character and preventing the reader from truly knowing what each characters’ intentions are. From Nyx’s first experience with The Jackal to the small community of friends Nyx finds herself surrounded by, readers may find it difficult to trust each of these characters when they are first introduced. They were in prison after all, and Nyx can’t risk her life and the lives of the people she loves in haste. The inner conflict that both Nyx and The Jackal have throughout the novel revealed itself to be particularly enjoyable, due to the immense emotional and physical development these characters go through. Burning questions and character motivations resolve by the novel’s epic conclusion.

Along with the mysterious tone of the novel, THE JACKAL also provides readers with action-packed scenes that promise to push readers to continue turning the page. From the first chapter to the last, Ward keeps her audience’s attention within her grip through the intense fight scenes and elaborate plans Nyx and The Jackal come up with in order to find Janelle and get out of the prison—even if that means Nyx would lose more than one person she loves. With the snarky and strong-willed female protagonist and a lover that leaves room for her to make her own crucial decisions, THE JACKAL breathes new air into paranormal romance novels, which is often deemed “fluff” or “boring” to some readers. The balance between action, tough decisions, and romance really brings this novel together. 

While some of the romance scenes may not be for modest readers, the absence such would evidently take away from the completeness of the characters’ developmental arcs as well as the novel’s overall tone. Though some of these intimate scenes add more to THE JACKAL’S core, the sheer frequency of sexual scenes and innuendos became quite redundant. It is made clear in the beginning of the novel that sex and thoughts around sex are a big part of vampire culture in this world. However, the fact that so many aspects of this vampire culture focuses on sex makes it difficult to remain in the serious tone and mindset of the novel. Even though eroticism is part of what makes vampire literature what it is, the novel may have benefitted from some restraint.

Overall, THE JACKAL is a great read for adult readers looking to reminisce on the days where paranormal romance and vampires was the main trend in the literary world. With thrilling action scenes interspersed combined with intimate physical and mental scenes, this novel is sure to please those who are looking for the perfect mix of action and romance.