Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Blood Fury
Author: J.R. Ward
Narrator: Jim Frangione
Series: Black Dagger Legacy #3
Heroes: Peyton/Novo and Saxton/Ruhn
Genre: MF/MM Paranormal
Length: 13 Hours, 10 Minutes
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: January 9, 2018
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: A vampire aristocrat, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family’s traditions. And he thought he’d found his perfect match—until she fell in love with someone else. Yet when his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another.
Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody—and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love.
As the two grapple with Novo’s past and Peyton’s present, another couple must contend with an erotic connection that is unparalleled—and potentially scandalous. Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love . . . and cost Saxton everything?
Review: I really love this series; whether I am reading the book or listening to the audio, I get a full-on emotional ride that I’ve come to need and rely on with this, and the original series. I know this series is an offshoot of the original, but I still clasp them into one series in my mind. But lately, I find myself not reading the books, but going straight for the audio, and that has everything to do with the narrator, Jim Frangione. He is like a long lost friend that you only hear from once a year but you immediately fall back into the comfort of his voice. As soon as this audio started, I found myself smiling like a goofball. I would probably recognize this man on the street if he started to speak. He is the epitome of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and I could never listen to another narrator take over this series, ever.
Blood Fury is actually more like two books in one, which is becoming very normal for this author. Sometimes that really annoys me, but it has grown on me, and I really don’t think I needed a longer version love story for Novo and Peyton, or Saxton and Ruhn. Their tales were just right, even if their endings were a little surprising.
Saxton broke my heart. Even though I wanted to dropkick him to the Old Country, in earlier books when he was with Blay, I found myself heart-hurt once I’d realized how much he was suffering from losing Blay. And Ruhn, wow, where did that past come from? The Warden has an evil streak a mile wide and she puts our protagonists through hell. I have no doubt she sits back and cackles like an evil witch when she “sticks it” to one (or more) of her characters.
I was really happy to have some resolution between Blay and Saxton. It was needed, it was time, and it was kind, but what do you expect from these two gentle-males? It would not have made sense any other way. But the violence that came out of Saxton, whoa buddy, that was unexpected, but yet again, I was glad Blay was witness to his moving on. I admit, I liked Ruhn and Saxton better than Novo and Peyton. No surprise there for those who know me.
Novo is as tough as Xhex, but not, at the same time. She has a ton of baggage and is not just a cold, hard female for no reason. And there is more to Peyton than the rich, arrogant party boy. These two definitely shouldn’t work on paper, but they have a chemistry that neither can or should deny. I admit I wasn’t feeling the love sick Peyton fawning over Paradise, and I am glad that didn’t last long. There is more than meets the eye with all four of our main characters in this installment, and though the audio was over 13 hours long, I got through it in record time. That speaks volumes for the story but even more for the performance of the narrator.
P.S. There was quite a bit of Assail in the background and a peek at the progress of Qhuinn’s brother, Lukas. I am now getting excited for both of their stories, even though I cannot imagine where she is going with Lukas…that man is literally destroyed. I guess we shall see.
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
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