The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13) by J.R. Ward

Synopsis:

Trez "Latimer" doesn't really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S'Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He's never had anyone he could totally rely on . . . except for his brother, iAm.

iAm's sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he's failed. It's not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez's life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it's too late. The pledge to mate the Queen's daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he's in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice . . .

What I think:

This one is easy. I think BDB stands for Books Dat Burn - in a good way. I have been waiting for this book ever since finishing the King. I won't lie, I was worried because those two weren't exactly my favorite people to read about. They annoyed me up until this book, but a friend told me to remember that we always have so many side stories, it would still be okay. 

As I started to read I realized pretty quickly that I was going to love them though. As I did with almost all side stories. And I know, this book is called the Shadows, but everyone who knows me knows that there is something that got me excited much more: One side story was Rhage, so basically that was main story for me (duh, I'm in love with him!). 

I am trying to write a spoiler-free review, just because I know that people like me hate spoilers in reviews. I understand they are sometimes necessary to get your point across, but I still believe firmly that you should avoid them one way or the other. Anyways, I'm babbling. 

I consider this not really a spoiler, but be ready to have Kleenex at hand if you read this book. I cried for like twenty pages straight. I cried so bad I needed to stop because I couldn't see the words anymore. My aunt looked at me with a picked up brow and mentioned that she's not gonna take me outside again if I carry a big ass book like that because it always makes me cry. Last year it was good happy tears. A lot of them. This year? I ain't telling, but I about looked like this:

Only not as pretty and in blonde. 

Was there something I didn't like about that book? Of course, Throe, Assail and the damn Queen Bitch. But let's face it, if that's what I felt J.R. Ward did her job exactly right because they somehow are the bad guys.

As it is, this book has a lot of surprises waiting at every turn and  as much as I hoped and prayed that Mrs. Ward would make everything good, she at least made everything all right. After all, HEA don't always happen, right?

Besides, it's ONLY a book, right? (At least that's what my grandmother said. I think she doesn't understand...)

So, no surprise here, but it's five out of five handsome from me.

Yours truly, 

Julie

(All images found on google and belong to their respective owners.)