Lyric and Devlin had such great chemistry! Loved, they were both hidden paranormals and obviously forbidden since their kind were enemies. He hid who he was and hid from his family as a human.
Loved the brotherhood and all of the characters and relationships. A couple of twists and surprises I didn’t see coming. Love how some of the higher up paranormals were hiding as guru types. Very charismatic and charming, so it tracks.
Def check out this series!! This is book #23.

it's always beautiful to come back to our lovely character!! some are old, some are new, but JR Ward style never miss and this time, again, we have a compelling love story and good fight against the lesser :)

I don't think I will ever get enough of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series! Lover Forbidden did not disappoint!
So far I am really enjoying the "next generation" stories. This was Lyric's story. I was surprised how relatable it was with regards to her overall mood and internal conflict since it is a series about vampires and their mortal undead enemies. J.R. Ward does a great job of making these characters, and the whole Black Dagger world, feel real. Lyric wants to be useful and make an impact in her world. She is surrounded by the brotherhood which includes her father, step fathers, and twin brother, and her mother who is one of the Chosen. Being a Brother or a Chosen are great appointments with immense responsibilities and are impactful for the vampire race. Lyric wants to make her mark but isn't sure how outside of those roles. Well, ask and you shall receive sister! Little does she know that the construction worker who saves her life is about to set her on the path to finding her purpose. The twist in this book was exciting, I wasn't sure how it would pan out. Thankfully, it wasn't too tragic, J.R. can really stick it to you sometimes!
I can't wait to find out what Lyric's brother Rhampage is getting into! I hope his is the next book!

This was my first introduction into J.R. Ward's black dagger series, and it truly did not disappoint.

Although I went into this not knowing anything about the 22 previous books, and sometimes felt overwhelmed and slightly confused, I really enjoyed reading this!

This book got me hooked into the world and JR Ward's writing and now I will be going back to pick up that first book and start over from the beginning.

I'm looking forward to spending much more time in the black dagger brotherhood world, and seeing how we got to this point in Lover Forbidden.

Thank you to Gallery Books for sending me this copy to review! I can't wait to read the rest of this series, and any and all of JR Ward's future books.

Thank you, JR Ward & @gallerybooks , for my copy of Lover Forbidden. This is book 23 in The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The FMC Lyric is the Beloved Daughter of my favorite vampires, Qhuinn & Blay (Lover at Last bk11). I loved Qhuinns chapters, but I really wished there was more Qhuinn & Blay content . As this is an ongoing series with interconnected spinoff series, I am always trying to guess what's next, & I was wrong! But also right!

I loved all the POVs and parallel stories, even though some were very sad. It is always fun to visit with some of the OG Brothers. My vote is for more OG brother content.

🖤 Vampires
🖤 War
🖤 Romance
🖤 Interconnected story
🖤 Multi POV
🖤 Prologue
🖤 Epilogue

Do you have an auto-buy author? For me, it’s J.R. Ward! I started this series when I was a teenager and I’ve always loved reading about this group of warriors—their dynamics and how their stories intertwine. I haven’t read all 23 books in the series unfortunately, but I’ll catch up sooner or later. Over the years, I went through some reading slumps and then got back into reading, and the first few books of the Black Dagger Brotherhood always helped me get back on track.

I have to admit, though, that this is not my favorite of the series. Lover Forbidden is book number 23. I loved the beginning, especially how Lyric and Dev met, but after that, their interactions were pushed into the background because of the many other POVs. I usually enjoy multiple POVs, but not when there are too many. I felt that things between the two main characters were both slow and rushed at the same time, and I would have loved to read more about them.

I’m really intrigued to learn more about LW’s story now and to see what will happen to him in the next book. Lover Forbidden is packed with events and, as always with J.R. Ward, it’s a wild ride. I loved catching up with the Brothers—I just adore them so much.

I was lucky enough to read this book in advance thanks to Gallery Books and the author. 💖

I have not read any of the other Black Dagger Brotherhood books, but after reading Lover Forbidden by J. R. Ward, I am definitely going to read them! It is about vampires and evil entities, but that is not the appeal of the book for me. I Ike the story about a young vampire who is a famous influencer named Lyric. Of course, the followers don’t know she is a vampire.

Lyric has a manager who is helping her move into a more prominent position in her world, but Lyric is pretty tired of the shallowness of her life. She has decided to give up her clothing line and move on to something more important and helpful. Lyric’s friend Allhan went to an event for Lyric’s clothing line and her manager insulted him (hard). Lyric was chasing after him in the snow. While she was looking for Allhan, she found herself in the middle of the street and a heavy wind blew a billboard straight at her. Unbelievably, a very strong looking man appeared and caught the billboard saving her life.

Lyric could not believe it and the man did not want attention or thanks for doing it. But lyric just could not let it go. What ensues is well worth the read. There are lots of characters, all interesting and different. This is for fans of Cassandra. Clare, Suzanne Collins and Stephanie Myers.

ARC Review: Lover Forbidden
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 1/2

Lover Forbidden is an enticing addition to the Black Dagger Brotherhood world. Even without full context from the earlier books, I was hooked by the chemistry and raw intensity between Lyric and Devlin. The spice is definitely on point, and the ferocity of these characters makes their connection impossible to look away from. While some elements were a little confusing since I haven’t read the entire series, the story still delivered an addictive mix of danger, romance, and high stakes. A well-done read that leaves me curious to explore more of this world!

Thank you to @jrwardauthor for sending me an ARC to review! I’m honored❤️‍🔥

3.5 but rounded up. Love BDB and JR Ward in general and was so excited for the new book. This addition to the BDB series was good but not a fave. I do feel like if you have not read previous books or at least some you would not understand what’s happening, especially those who only watched the tv show and are jumping in on book 23.

The war between species continues but definitely moved forward to a possible end game, who knows? It was nice seeing our original BDB peeps who sucked us into their world living their lives and seeing their children find their HEAs.

However the subplots took up so much space their romance and individual storylines got lost! I like Dev a lot and think he’s a perfect counter part to Lyric. Lots of drama there! I feel like we didn’t get their romance story built well. It’s like three encounters and then it was like boom they love each other, are somehow linked and are moving in together. Dev’s secret, their romance and Lyric trying to change her life should have remained the main focus of the book. Hopefully we’ll get more in the next book.

However did I eat the book up like every other in the series yes I did. And will I buy the next one and read it absolutely! There’s something that just hooks you in to this world. Very similar to Nalini Singh’a Guild Hunter or PsyChangeling series. It’s like a long movie or tv series, not every episode will be your favorite but the whole and how that helped set up the story to come is still important!

Thanks to Gallery books for the advanced copy. This is an honest review after reading.

(...) A filha de Qhuinn cresceu, Lyric agora é uma mulher que aos olhos de todos vive uma vida incrível, mas a verdade é que ela ainda está em busca de um propósito. Quando um encontro inesperado com a morte faz com que ela encontre um homem misterioso, Lyric percebe que existe muito mais do que as redes sociais mostram sobre ela. Sem conseguir deixar de pensar em seu salvador, ela busca saber mais sobre ele, mas o que a princípio parece ser apenas uma atração física inexplicável acaba se mostrando o ponto de virada na vida da personagem e daqueles ao seu redor.
Enquanto acompanhamos o desenvolvimento do romance entre Lyric e Devlin (um romance gostoso de acompanhar e que vai arrancar alguns suspiros do leitor), também acompanhamos alguns desdobramentos envolvendo outros personagens ligados à Irmandade, aprendemos mais sobre a relação de L.W. com os pais, revemos personagens queridos e ficamos com uma pontinha de esperança de que outros apareçam rs.
Além disso, a obra apresenta alguns elementos que indicam que mais um ponto de virada está chegando para a Irmandade e que alguns personagens irão ganhar destaque muito em breve, eu estou bem curiosa para saber o que vai acontecer a seguir. Não se esqueçam das reviravoltas, tem várias durante a leitura que vão deixar vocês de queixo caído.
Ah! Embora o leitor consiga compreender a trama desse volume sem a leitura dos anteriores, eu realmente recomendo que você leia na ordem, especialmente se você já conhece os personagens principais dos primeiros livros, caso contrário, alguns acontecimentos citados no início do livro podem deixar você em choque e se perguntando como tal coisa aconteceu com determinado personagem. Além disso, algumas conexões entre personagens que aparecem no decorrer da trama farão muito mais sentido com a leitura do restante da série.
No mais, esse é um romance que deve agradar bastante os leitores de fantasia, romance paranormal e vampiros, especialmente os que já tiveram algum contato com a série e que querem mergulhar ainda mais nesse universo.

✨ARC Review✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️



Welp, the Queen has done it again. JR Ward has the absolutely delicious ability to suck you into a story and make the real world fall away. I DEVOURED this book. The storyline follows Lyric and Devlin: Lyric, a young vampire female with a massive social media following and an unsettling feeling that she wants (and is made for) more, and Devlin, a blue collar human man who is all things silent and brooding. Dev saves Lyric’s life in a freak accident during which it seems all the stars have aligned. The draw between them is instant and irresistible, but it’s forbidden: he’s a human, she’s a vampire.

I’m absolutely living for this new generation’s storylines while still having the originals in the periphery. It’s that magical sweet spot between the cozy warmth of the familiar and the rush of an entirely new adventure. Because of this, it allows new readers who are unfamiliar with the universe to jump right in. 



As such, while there are lots of thoughts on whether you need to read the previous books in the universe before reading this one, my opinion is that you honestly don’t have to if you're impatient. The Warden gives enough background and explanation to make this a wholly enjoyable read even as a standalone. Will reading the previous books set up the foundation for this story to be much more meaningful? Of course. But I can 100% guarantee that anyone who starts with Lover Forbidden will thoroughly enjoy it, and immediately sprint back to the beginning of it all and pick up Dark Lover. 



10/10 would recommend!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I'm sitting here trying to process what I just read, it's the perfect blending of nostalga, and now,  with the remeniscing of our brothers, thinking of those who have gone unto the fade, of the loved ones that were left to pick up the pieces, of the depths of despair theyve had to dig themselves out of...  somehow there are equal parts hope and fear for the future generations of our beloved brotherhood, even when we don't know why we still hold on to the possible.

Lyric has had so many ups and downs in her life, and while some might see it as idyllic, only she knows what's in her heart, what she longs to be doing with the life that she's been given. Devlin is the last person her family would want her to be with, but as with so many in this series, the heart wants what the heart wants. While Devlin isn't about to tell her everything in the beginning, it soon becomes apparent that he's the only possible choice for her,  and the only hope for the destruction of the lessers.

I can't believe how much I loved this book, and while I've been reading the Brotherhood books for 20 years, it seems each new book somehow becomes my favorite... well, second favorite, there is that one story that just gives me faith in love and respect in a relationship every time I read it.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this e-book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay to be fair, I’m reading this only having the knowledge of someone watching the show, this is very much a series for those that are up to date and knowledgeable about the lore, so I could change my mind after reading the 22 books before it, but parts were very confusing for a reader new to the book. If you are thinking you could just pick this up, no, no you can’t.

This series is for people that like vampires and want just a fun time with them, and a long time considering there is 23 books. The best parts of the book where the parts that made me laugh, and I was laughing at the absurdity of the moments often. I was about to start a drinking game, first on the list was taking a sip every time Wrath, Son of Wrath, sire of Wrath, was on page.

I’m willing to put in the work for the series just cause I think it’s fun and different. Here are some of my fave quotes.

“The statistical probability of being killed by a falling billboard on a city street is nearly incalculable.”

“Did someone say ‘Stay Puft?”

“Shuli was the Toby Flenderson to the universe. “And that does not make me Michael Scott,” L.W. muttered.”

““I’m like Farmers.” She blinked in confusion. “I’m sorry, what?” “Trust me, Lyric.” He squeezed her hand. “I know a thing or two . . . ’cuz I’ve seen a thing or two.”


I could go on but I think it says it all about my fave parts of the book!

Thank you to Gallery for an advance copy of the book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Everything you have come to expect and already love from the Warden, but make it next generation. 

📕 For those of you who have not started this series, please start with Dark Lover, book 1 to help you establish the foundation of the brotherhood. I would say you solidly need to read the first 7ish of the series (but ideally all of them) before jumping into book 23. IF however you are impatient, and can’t wait…it’s definitely do-able, because there is enough background and breadcrumbs to set you up for success, just find a family tree and you should be golden. 

💅 This story follows Lyric and Devlin. Lyric, a fashion icon with all the followers and none of the “real” and Devlin, a human male, just a regular hard working guy with super human strength, a bit of a loner. Dev’s quick action saves Lyric in a potentially disastrous moment, and ever since she can’t get him out of her head. And this is complicated (or FORBIDDEN, if you will) because Lyric is a vamp and Devlin is human, just a regular guy who happened to be at the right place right time to save Lyric. 

🗡️ Our OG brothers are back, bringing the same banter we know and love in previous books. This never gets old for me, and I loved being back in this universe with familiar friends. And while I enjoy seeing the familiar characters, I also am excited about the next generation, which is integrating nicely with the OGs. In some ways it kind of feels like the first handful of books because we are learning about the new characters, so it gives a satisfying nod, rewarding those readers that have been around from the beginning, but also gives enough to help you get along if you haven’t read for a while or are newer to the series.

📖 I feel like theres a bit of a fresh new vibe, which really worked for me, and I hope will appeal to younger readers just learning about this series. 

🌀 There are some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting but I will be saying less here to avoid spoiling for anyone but in a nutshell…here’s what you can expect: 

🩸 Vamps (obvi)
🧛 The ongoing battle with the lessers (this isn’t going anywhere)
💭 All the banter
🗡️ Forbidden Love (hi, it’s on the cover)
🌶️ The spice is spicing 
💕 Pining (so much pining) 

🤐 As usual, we get to check in with other main characters, setting us up for some hints about who gets the next book? My guess? Two letters, that’s all I’m saying. IYKYK

🌟 Overall, I loved this, I feel like this has sparked my enthusiasm again for the series, it just feels like a refresh and I’m here for it.

How do I even review book #23 (#48 if you count spinoffs and novellas) in a series?! I don’t have the words to describe what this series means to me, but I’m gonna try. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is paranormal romance with elite vampire warriors set in New York, that in my opinion was incredibly ahead of its time. There is disability rep, LGBTQ+ rep, survivor rep, mental health rep, and more for almost every book. Even though they’re immortal, these vampires have struggles and hardships the same as humans and it would be impossible not to fall in love with these characters from how emotionally deep and real they are. The found family trope is strong in this series and I think that’s what makes me love it so much. I started this series back in 2023 and the brothers have lived in my heart ever since. If you’re intimidated by how many books there are, don’t be. Each book has a different main couple so you don’t have to worry about huge cliffhangers. However, I want to make this very clear: YOU CANNOT SKIP BOOKS. A lot of the couples meet long before their main book, with some of the buildups spanning 5+ books before they finally have a happy ending. Romance aside, you would be very confused on the plot as well since this is a continuous series, not interconnected standalones. The four spin-off series all feature characters from the main BDB series and I would recommend reading all of the books in publication order so that you don’t miss key plot lines and characters. Especially Black Dagger Legacy which has an early character redemption romance and an introduction to one of the brother’s daughter. In books 22-23, The Beloved and Lover Forbidden, a new generation of the Black Dagger Brotherhood has taken the spotlight, the children of some of the characters’ are old enough to have their own relationships and stories. These past two books in the series felt like a warm hug. They gave me the same feels and vibes as the first couple of books in the series, with all of the familiar faces and a plot that feels true to where this series all began. Not to mention the main characters are the children of my top two couples in the entire universe. I am loving where this new plot is going, especially with the focus on some of my favorite couples navigating life as parents. The new-ish characters (the brothers’ kids) are really interesting already and I love that we’re setting up multiple characters’ future books with side povs. I’m someone who absolutely adores long series, but I know it’s daunting to get invested in a series as long as this one so I hope my undying love for it convinces you to read it.

I love everything about this world that JR Ward has created and was so excited to get back into it. Devlin & Lyric's story is a wonderful addition to the series I hope never ends. Getting the next generation's books is such a treat! The found family/brotherhood aspect is one of my favorite parts of this series and it was there in this story. Definitely a must read for all Black Dagger Brotherhood fans!

✨ARC Review✨

When Lyric goes out for the night, she’s not ready for a brush with death—and she’s really not ready for the male who comes out of nowhere and saves her. Her family, especially her father, Qhuinn, are so relieved she’s okay, but all she can think about is her mysterious savior.

Without telling anybody, she seeks out Devlin, and they are immediately drawn to one another. Her near-death experience has given her a fresh appreciation for life and the desire to live it to its fullest, but she has no idea that he’s hiding a secret—or that he could be the key to ending the war between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the lessers forever.

Lover Forbidden is the next installment in The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. It was a breath of fresh air to immerse myself in this universe through Lyric’s perspective.
The dynamic was fascinating to explore, and I was eager to experience it fully. I found myself thoroughly engaged and entertained during this entire adventure, and I was left with a strong curiosity about its direction.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Can someone please tell the Warden to never stop being herself!! To never stop writing this amazing stories.

Dev hates where he came from.

Lyric just wants to find out who she is.

A chance meeting.

Fate has a way of bringing you to where it wants you; even when you don’t want it.

I am so glad I am doing my whole BDB universe re-read and seeing amazing characters! I had missed my BDB fam 🥹

I was kicking my feet, laughing, crying, devastated, all of it in one book!

“This is where you two end . . . and also where you begin.”

“In the middle of a snowy city street, a one-in-a-million accident gifting him a once-in-a-lifetime love.”

“You never knew when your destiny was going to come and find you, or how it was going to land on your head.”

“Real life didn’t require a perpetual setting sun and the couple from that Cialis ad holding hands in their non sequitur outdoor bathtubs. What you actually needed were two people who still cared about what the other guy had to say after the passage of time—and not just days and nights. Not months. Not even years. Decades.”

“I’m afraid if I have you, I’ll never be able to be free of you.”

✨ Returning Home to Caldwell ✨

For me, picking up a 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 book is like going home, slipping back into a world I’ve lived in for years. I first met the Brothers through 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 two decades ago, and somehow,this series still manages to give me that same feeling every time I return to it.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 drops us straight into the danger and drama. Lyric’s ordinary night out suddenly becomes anything but, and the stranger who steps in to save her changes everything. Her family, especially her father Qhuinn, are simply grateful she’s safe, but Lyric can’t let Devlin go. Drawn to him in secret, she has no idea the weight of what he’s carrying or just how pivotal he might be in the Brotherhood’s fight against the lessers.

What drew me in most was the way J.R. Ward continues to weave family through the heart of these stories. Lyric’s bond with those around her shines, and the moments with LW and Bitty were standouts for me. Lyric herself begins in a place that feels very surface-level (deliberately so), but her journey into something more is heartfelt and moving to watch unfold.

Devlin, meanwhile, is full of intrigue. You catch glimpses of depth and vulnerability that suggest there’s so much more beneath the surface. I only wished we’d had more of him, more of his history, and more space for his connection with Lyric to develop. I feel there's more to their story. I’m hoping it’ll be explored further.

That’s one of the joys of this series, though: it’s never just one story. It’s an ongoing saga, where each book layers into the next. The world-building remains rich and atmospheric, the wider conflict simmers, and you can feel J.R. Ward setting things in motion, putting pieces in place for whatever’s coming next.


Huge thank you to @gallerybooks for sending me this eARC.

Full disclosure — I have not read all 23 books in this series, but I chatted with other readers that made me feel confident about just diving in. I had no issues following the story and keeping up with the plot. I can tell there were some character connections that I didn’t appreciate the full depth of what was happening, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment or understanding of the story. I really enjoyed how Ward used multiple POVs to drop in different hints of what’s happening in the story while also tying all the different plot threads together. I also felt that there was a good balance of world building to give new readers a sense of what’s happening without rehashing too much that would wear on seasoned readers. I enjoyed Lyric’s character and her development arc as she tries to figure out where to go with her life. I also thought she had great chemistry with Dev even if it was a little too insta love for my tastes. I enjoyed the mystery of trying to understand Dev’s character. My favorite part of this story, though, was the dynamic between L.W. and Shuli. I found their frustration with their pairing and having to figure out how to work together fascinating. Overall, I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more in the series.