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The Lair of the Wolven #2
Forever
For Lydia Susi, there is no sweet sorrow in saying goodbye to the man she loves. As a wolven hiding among humans, she’s used to being alone—until destiny gives her the kind of love she never dared to dream about. But after a sudden devastating diagnosis, grief is the only thing she sees in her future.
As an operative for a clandestine arm of the United States government, Daniel Joseph always expected to die an early death. He just assumed it would be out in the field—not in a laboratory hospital bed. With his time running out, he refuses a potentially lifesaving treatment to focus on making sure that Lydia finds her wolven clan.
Following an attack on the lab’s compound, Daniel fears his former boss is coming after the two of them. Marshaling his strength, he must call on all of his training to protect his love…even if it means her moving on without him.
As an operative for a clandestine arm of the United States government, Daniel Joseph always expected to die an early death. He just assumed it would be out in the field—not in a laboratory hospital bed. With his time running out, he refuses a potentially lifesaving treatment to focus on making sure that Lydia finds her wolven clan.
Following an attack on the lab’s compound, Daniel fears his former boss is coming after the two of them. Marshaling his strength, he must call on all of his training to protect his love…even if it means her moving on without him.
478 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2023
1059 people are currently reading
4554 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Ward
221 books52.4k followersJ.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
April 18, 2023
So anyone that knows me knows I absolutely love J R Ward and anything to do with the Black Dagger Brotherhood! I do! I absolutely do! The Lair of the Wolven is one of the spin offs and I have to say I loved the first book, that ending took me by surprise and I was invested.... Forever has been a mix of emotions, not so much because of the general whirlwind ride you can get with a well written storyline but more of a 'what the hell am I supposed to think and feel' kind of ride...
Doom, gloom, death and so much sadness seems to rule book 2 and the excitement of everything else seems to be 'just there' for the sideline... Even having Xhex and John in the picture didn't seem real in the context of what was going on...
This is a 1st 3 stars for me with any of J R Ward's books, however, I am intruiged to see what happens in the near future so I'm hoping book 3 gives me back that 'oomph' I always get with Ms Ward's books!
Doom, gloom, death and so much sadness seems to rule book 2 and the excitement of everything else seems to be 'just there' for the sideline... Even having Xhex and John in the picture didn't seem real in the context of what was going on...
This is a 1st 3 stars for me with any of J R Ward's books, however, I am intruiged to see what happens in the near future so I'm hoping book 3 gives me back that 'oomph' I always get with Ms Ward's books!
January 26, 2024
I have been a fan of J.R. Ward for some time, but I am not a 'squee girrl. I am not writing this review at the feet of my idol like some are.
After the wonderful start to this new series? Trilogy? I was so looking forward to this book. I even paid the full price for it!
If you are going to read this book, make sure you have anti-depressants handy and maybe even a big bottle of wine and a full box of tissues.
I know that Ward has a way with words, and she has a way of injecting each story with tragedy, but this book takes the cake. By 52% of this book, I was ready to toss it aside. I can't afford to be any more depressed than I am already.
I persevered, and it just got worse -who was dying at the end of the last book is even worse off now, people who were healthy as oxen are now dying, beloved characters are being shot and kidnapped, no questions are answered, nobody is who they seem, and the story doesn't truly move forward. Huge cliffhangers abound. And may I just add...cyborgs?
I don't think I'm going to invest my cash in buying the next book. If my curiosity does get the better of me, will take it out from the library. At this point, I don't even recommend reading the first novel.
After the wonderful start to this new series? Trilogy? I was so looking forward to this book. I even paid the full price for it!
If you are going to read this book, make sure you have anti-depressants handy and maybe even a big bottle of wine and a full box of tissues.
I know that Ward has a way with words, and she has a way of injecting each story with tragedy, but this book takes the cake. By 52% of this book, I was ready to toss it aside. I can't afford to be any more depressed than I am already.
I persevered, and it just got worse -who was dying at the end of the last book is even worse off now, people who were healthy as oxen are now dying, beloved characters are being shot and kidnapped, no questions are answered, nobody is who they seem, and the story doesn't truly move forward. Huge cliffhangers abound. And may I just add...cyborgs?
I don't think I'm going to invest my cash in buying the next book. If my curiosity does get the better of me, will take it out from the library. At this point, I don't even recommend reading the first novel.
March 28, 2023
Huh...I'm kinda not sure what to think about this one. We found out some things, but ended with so many more questions than answers and some things seem like they were dropped. However I know form doing re-reads of this author that often she drops something so insignificant that becomes huge later.
Not sure what I think is going on with John Matthew and Xhex, more so Xhex. So many times it was brought up how her grid was near breaking. That really doesn't bode well in so many ways. Also, WTF with John Matthew....really, we needed to go through that with such a beloved character????
Not sure what is going on with Dan and Lydia. Really looked bad for them at the start, yet by the end of the book things seemed much better, maybe even miraculous. Dan seems to have so much more knowledge than he thinks. I want to know how who he worked for and what is going on now will play out. And how does Dan's old boss play into things, especially now that he has been outted to some.
Then there is the evil Dr, who maybe isn't so evil, just a woman clutching at a last straw with nothing left to live for, until all of a sudden she has so much to live for. Maybe she shouldn't have signed that new contract. And then WTH happened with Gus, that really seems ominous.
Not sure what I think is going on with John Matthew and Xhex, more so Xhex. So many times it was brought up how her grid was near breaking. That really doesn't bode well in so many ways. Also, WTF with John Matthew....really, we needed to go through that with such a beloved character????
Not sure what is going on with Dan and Lydia. Really looked bad for them at the start, yet by the end of the book things seemed much better, maybe even miraculous. Dan seems to have so much more knowledge than he thinks. I want to know how who he worked for and what is going on now will play out. And how does Dan's old boss play into things, especially now that he has been outted to some.
Then there is the evil Dr, who maybe isn't so evil, just a woman clutching at a last straw with nothing left to live for, until all of a sudden she has so much to live for. Maybe she shouldn't have signed that new contract. And then WTH happened with Gus, that really seems ominous.
April 10, 2023
What went wrong? I'm so disappointed.
I found JR Ward books by accident and quickly became hooked. When I heard there was going to be a new series about wolves, I was really excited and couldn't wait to see what she had in store for us.
The answer was nothing, zip, nilch or as they say around here, nowt.
I wondered if it was our fault, her fans? I'd pre-paid for this book - are we pushing her to churn out books before they are fully formed? Maybe.
Usually with a JR Ward book you can rely on the fact that it will be fast paced, fun, sexy and exciting with that snappy, snarky dialogue and great characters that you come to love.
The new book series started out quite differently to her Black Dagger Brotherhood books, with more of a thriller feel to it with the mysterious company building and messing up the environment. In book one, there were forests and mountains and wolves and a whole, who is the werewolf and who's killing wolves question throughout the story. I liked the new characters. I was settling in for the story to unfold. Then the vampires started to get involved.
I was worried, I hate this new trend of everything being interconnected because the joy of reading a great story is tainted by feeling that you haven't done enough homework and now you'll have to read a whole set of books before you're up to speed for the next chapter. But, I was hoping it was just bringing this book into the world JR Ward has spent so many years and books meticulously creating.
I eagerly opened book two, expecting wolves and wilderness and insight into werewolf culture and society and to meet new characters to grow fond of. No, none of that, if you're looking for wolves you need a different book. This book is about grief, about sadness, about loss. It's all about the horrific nature of cancer and how it rips the heart and soul out of anyone in its path. It does a great job of that. There's a huge amount of information about business practices of pharmaceutical companies, and medical treatments. And a new set of human characters who aren't really very likable and then all of a sudden the story is about them.
I love reading JR Ward because usually it's pure escapism. We have an insight into a world very different from our own. I don't usually seek out books about the harsh realities of life because I've enough of my own to be dealing with.
Even the writing at the start of the book seemed different. In parts it was almost a parody of her own writing style and in places it was so full of sarcasm and wittisisms that it was almost unreadable, I found myself googling references.
There are a lot of fairly explicit sex scenes in the BDB books but they always seemed to be part of the narrative and fit the characters and situations, so they never really felt gratuitous. In this book some of the sex scenes just had the 'ick' factor. I started to wonder if JR Ward had written this book at all.
The first wolf mentioned was 30% of the way through the book, no other mentions till 69% through. Then suddenly wolf abilities that I'm not sure were mentioned before and certainly weren't a big part of the story. There's a total 'wolfyness' of about 3 paragraphs in the whole book.
I started to recognise the writing about 80% in, but by then it had become a Black Dagger book.
If I don't like a book I usually stop reading it because life's too short, but I didn't want to not finish this book because of my love for the rest of the series, so I kept reading. I found myself skimming - 'skimming' (???? can't believe it) parts that were boring. I started binge watching my favourite TV shows to put off having to read this book.
Then just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, abracadabra- biomechanical terminator attack - I kid you not.
Usually I'm wondering when I can sneak in reading a crafty chapter into whatever I'm doing, this book put me off reading. I don't know whether I can bring myself to read book three. I've got a horrible feeling there will be more cancer, illness, death and grief followed by vampires picking up the pieces. I suspect there will be no werewolves to get our teeth into (pun intended), but we'll be stuck with vampires and sympaths versus biomechanical soldiers possibly on a mission for an alien chemical corporation, who knows, could be any old thing really at this point.
I wish I could say to JR Ward, that her writing is awesome and not to feel that she has to keep churning things out for us, I'm happy to wait, I'll go for quality not quantity and please don't promise wolves and give us shinola.
I found JR Ward books by accident and quickly became hooked. When I heard there was going to be a new series about wolves, I was really excited and couldn't wait to see what she had in store for us.
The answer was nothing, zip, nilch or as they say around here, nowt.
I wondered if it was our fault, her fans? I'd pre-paid for this book - are we pushing her to churn out books before they are fully formed? Maybe.
Usually with a JR Ward book you can rely on the fact that it will be fast paced, fun, sexy and exciting with that snappy, snarky dialogue and great characters that you come to love.
The new book series started out quite differently to her Black Dagger Brotherhood books, with more of a thriller feel to it with the mysterious company building and messing up the environment. In book one, there were forests and mountains and wolves and a whole, who is the werewolf and who's killing wolves question throughout the story. I liked the new characters. I was settling in for the story to unfold. Then the vampires started to get involved.
I was worried, I hate this new trend of everything being interconnected because the joy of reading a great story is tainted by feeling that you haven't done enough homework and now you'll have to read a whole set of books before you're up to speed for the next chapter. But, I was hoping it was just bringing this book into the world JR Ward has spent so many years and books meticulously creating.
I eagerly opened book two, expecting wolves and wilderness and insight into werewolf culture and society and to meet new characters to grow fond of. No, none of that, if you're looking for wolves you need a different book. This book is about grief, about sadness, about loss. It's all about the horrific nature of cancer and how it rips the heart and soul out of anyone in its path. It does a great job of that. There's a huge amount of information about business practices of pharmaceutical companies, and medical treatments. And a new set of human characters who aren't really very likable and then all of a sudden the story is about them.
I love reading JR Ward because usually it's pure escapism. We have an insight into a world very different from our own. I don't usually seek out books about the harsh realities of life because I've enough of my own to be dealing with.
Even the writing at the start of the book seemed different. In parts it was almost a parody of her own writing style and in places it was so full of sarcasm and wittisisms that it was almost unreadable, I found myself googling references.
There are a lot of fairly explicit sex scenes in the BDB books but they always seemed to be part of the narrative and fit the characters and situations, so they never really felt gratuitous. In this book some of the sex scenes just had the 'ick' factor. I started to wonder if JR Ward had written this book at all.
The first wolf mentioned was 30% of the way through the book, no other mentions till 69% through. Then suddenly wolf abilities that I'm not sure were mentioned before and certainly weren't a big part of the story. There's a total 'wolfyness' of about 3 paragraphs in the whole book.
I started to recognise the writing about 80% in, but by then it had become a Black Dagger book.
If I don't like a book I usually stop reading it because life's too short, but I didn't want to not finish this book because of my love for the rest of the series, so I kept reading. I found myself skimming - 'skimming' (???? can't believe it) parts that were boring. I started binge watching my favourite TV shows to put off having to read this book.
Then just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, abracadabra- biomechanical terminator attack - I kid you not.
Usually I'm wondering when I can sneak in reading a crafty chapter into whatever I'm doing, this book put me off reading. I don't know whether I can bring myself to read book three. I've got a horrible feeling there will be more cancer, illness, death and grief followed by vampires picking up the pieces. I suspect there will be no werewolves to get our teeth into (pun intended), but we'll be stuck with vampires and sympaths versus biomechanical soldiers possibly on a mission for an alien chemical corporation, who knows, could be any old thing really at this point.
I wish I could say to JR Ward, that her writing is awesome and not to feel that she has to keep churning things out for us, I'm happy to wait, I'll go for quality not quantity and please don't promise wolves and give us shinola.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
3'5 Estrellas. Me ha dejado igual de descolocada que el primero. Para empezar, porque recordaba poco o nada del anterior, y no ha sido bueno para terminar de ubicarme en la trama.
La Ward nos trae de nuevo este spin-off de la Hermandad, donde los protagonistas, o más bien solo uno, es lobo.
Han pasado meses desde ése final abierto que nos dejó la Ward con Claimed. Lydia Susi ha visto destrozado el trabajo de su vida en su reserva natural de lobos. Pero ha dejado todo atrás por una buena razón, la enfermedad de su novio, Daniel Joseph, a quien apenas le quedan meses de vida.
En este libro, J. R. Ward nos trae otra vez la trama de los laboratorios clandestinos de humanos que experimentaron con vampiros y lobos. Por esto mismo, Xhex tendrá un papel fundamental en ésta historia, y también Blade, un vampiro como ella, y que fue el jefe de Daniel para destruir estos laboratorios.
Pero la trama ha cambiado en éste libro. Lydia y Daniel se han trasladado a vivir a la mansión de C.P. Phalen, una altruista mujer de negocios de la industria farmaceútica, que está probando medicamentos y fármacos experimentales, y Daniel puede ser un buen sujeto para el último descubrimiento.
Durante la historia se complicarán más las cosas, hasta el punto de que los protagonistas entran en una cuenta atrás, Lydia y Daniel intentan disfrutar del tiempo que les queda, C.P. Phalen y el médico, Gus, que está desarrollando en nuevo medicamento, también iniciarán algo, pero el tiempo también será limitado para ellos. Además, Xhex se involucrará sin saber cómo, en la vida de Lydia y Daniel, intentando ayudarlos en su nueva situación; solo la amenaza de Blade, mitad vampiro y mitad Symphant, se cruzará entre los protagonistas.
Además tendremos una tercera trama abierta, a la que todavía no sabemos por donde nos lleva la Ward. Si los malos no eran los humanos de los laboratorios, ¿qué o quién está controlando los cyborg con pinta humana que amenazaron a los protagonistas en el primer libro y en éste?
Como siempre, Ward nos ha embrollado en una historia que no sabemos a donde nos lleva, pero para mí, esta mujer es como una droga y aunque tenga libros malos o patinazos, la seguiré leyendo.
El romance me gusta como evoluciona, realmente me encantan Lydia y Daniel, pero estoy sufriendo mucho pensando en lo que puede durar.
Ahora solo queda saber cuándo continuará la Ward la saga, o qué mas tratará en el siguiente libro. Si bien este no acaba con un final muy abierto, si deja algo para descubrir en el siguiente.
La Ward nos trae de nuevo este spin-off de la Hermandad, donde los protagonistas, o más bien solo uno, es lobo.
Han pasado meses desde ése final abierto que nos dejó la Ward con Claimed. Lydia Susi ha visto destrozado el trabajo de su vida en su reserva natural de lobos. Pero ha dejado todo atrás por una buena razón, la enfermedad de su novio, Daniel Joseph, a quien apenas le quedan meses de vida.
En este libro, J. R. Ward nos trae otra vez la trama de los laboratorios clandestinos de humanos que experimentaron con vampiros y lobos. Por esto mismo, Xhex tendrá un papel fundamental en ésta historia, y también Blade, un vampiro como ella, y que fue el jefe de Daniel para destruir estos laboratorios.
Pero la trama ha cambiado en éste libro. Lydia y Daniel se han trasladado a vivir a la mansión de C.P. Phalen, una altruista mujer de negocios de la industria farmaceútica, que está probando medicamentos y fármacos experimentales, y Daniel puede ser un buen sujeto para el último descubrimiento.
Durante la historia se complicarán más las cosas, hasta el punto de que los protagonistas entran en una cuenta atrás, Lydia y Daniel intentan disfrutar del tiempo que les queda, C.P. Phalen y el médico, Gus, que está desarrollando en nuevo medicamento, también iniciarán algo, pero el tiempo también será limitado para ellos. Además, Xhex se involucrará sin saber cómo, en la vida de Lydia y Daniel, intentando ayudarlos en su nueva situación; solo la amenaza de Blade, mitad vampiro y mitad Symphant, se cruzará entre los protagonistas.
Además tendremos una tercera trama abierta, a la que todavía no sabemos por donde nos lleva la Ward. Si los malos no eran los humanos de los laboratorios, ¿qué o quién está controlando los cyborg con pinta humana que amenazaron a los protagonistas en el primer libro y en éste?
Como siempre, Ward nos ha embrollado en una historia que no sabemos a donde nos lleva, pero para mí, esta mujer es como una droga y aunque tenga libros malos o patinazos, la seguiré leyendo.
El romance me gusta como evoluciona, realmente me encantan Lydia y Daniel, pero estoy sufriendo mucho pensando en lo que puede durar.
Ahora solo queda saber cuándo continuará la Ward la saga, o qué mas tratará en el siguiente libro. Si bien este no acaba con un final muy abierto, si deja algo para descubrir en el siguiente.
April 6, 2023
I‘m at page 180 of 420 and until now it’s only… cancer? Wtf??? How does this have anything to do with the BDB? What happened?!? Ward, what are you doing to this former wonderful series??? I wanted to read a story about fierce and sexy vampires/wolvens and you are giving me a sob story about a man who is dying of cancer and his partner? No, not finishing this one. I don’t care what happens next. Nope. Just, Nope. I‘m finished with this book and with everything else that comes afterwards. I’m so disappointed. This was once so wonderful and now it’s… nothing. Sorry, but I’m gone. You have lost me more and more during your last books but I always had hope. This hope is now gone. No, thank you, but no more. It has been great and I will always cherish and maybe re-read some of the older books. Thanks and goodbye. Forever.
May 12, 2023
Okay so first things first, the MMC is dying of cancer and suffering through all of the side effects due to chemo. It’s not pleasant and it’s throughout the entire book.
This book was very sad and really gets into the despair and grief two people can go through while facing a terminal diagnosis. It’s hard to read. This is suppose to be a paranormal romance. I don’t want to read about a human man’s suffering with his cancer diagnosis. I don’t want to read about sad, normal human experiences. That’s why I read paranormal romances.
Lydia and Daniel are navigating this difficult time in their lives. He’s no longer doing any kind of treatment and they are just trying to enjoy the time they have left. Gus and C.P. Phalen get a little closer and we get more insight into their characters, and guess what! She has cancer too. Also, she’s pregnant and now has to choose between the pregnancy and treatment. Which is a horrible and tough choice to make, but apparently it’s important and relevant to the story.
Xhex, Rhevenge, and Xhex’s brother Blade are thrown in there. I don’t understand what they have to do with the wolven at all. The only connection Blade has is to Daniel, who used to work for him. Also, Blade (who up until now, has only been attracted to males) bonds with Lydia. That doesn’t make any sense. I feel like that was added just to cause unnecessary strife between the main characters which are already dealing with a lot. Xhex’ grid is collapsing, but you don’t know why and she seems to be doing fine.
Cyborgs. There are cyborgs. Why? Why are there cyborgs?? There are vampires, sympaths, and humans with cancer. Why did cyborgs have to be added into this story? This book is suppose to be a book in the Lair of the Wolven spin-off series and we have hardly gotten any mention of wolven or their lair. Lydia shifts a few times. That’s it.
Overall, this book was a disappointment. I figured after the way the first book ended that yes, they would be dealing with Daniel’s cancer diagnosis. But, I also thought that they would find some way to fix it supernaturally. It is a paranormal romance after all. But no. He’s still sick and dying at the end of it and nothing really gets resolved. It’s just more and more questions. I just feel like this entire spin-off series is irrelevant and pointless. We aren’t getting anything about the wolven so what is the point?
This book was very sad and really gets into the despair and grief two people can go through while facing a terminal diagnosis. It’s hard to read. This is suppose to be a paranormal romance. I don’t want to read about a human man’s suffering with his cancer diagnosis. I don’t want to read about sad, normal human experiences. That’s why I read paranormal romances.
Lydia and Daniel are navigating this difficult time in their lives. He’s no longer doing any kind of treatment and they are just trying to enjoy the time they have left. Gus and C.P. Phalen get a little closer and we get more insight into their characters, and guess what! She has cancer too. Also, she’s pregnant and now has to choose between the pregnancy and treatment. Which is a horrible and tough choice to make, but apparently it’s important and relevant to the story.
Xhex, Rhevenge, and Xhex’s brother Blade are thrown in there. I don’t understand what they have to do with the wolven at all. The only connection Blade has is to Daniel, who used to work for him. Also, Blade (who up until now, has only been attracted to males) bonds with Lydia. That doesn’t make any sense. I feel like that was added just to cause unnecessary strife between the main characters which are already dealing with a lot. Xhex’ grid is collapsing, but you don’t know why and she seems to be doing fine.
Cyborgs. There are cyborgs. Why? Why are there cyborgs?? There are vampires, sympaths, and humans with cancer. Why did cyborgs have to be added into this story? This book is suppose to be a book in the Lair of the Wolven spin-off series and we have hardly gotten any mention of wolven or their lair. Lydia shifts a few times. That’s it.
Overall, this book was a disappointment. I figured after the way the first book ended that yes, they would be dealing with Daniel’s cancer diagnosis. But, I also thought that they would find some way to fix it supernaturally. It is a paranormal romance after all. But no. He’s still sick and dying at the end of it and nothing really gets resolved. It’s just more and more questions. I just feel like this entire spin-off series is irrelevant and pointless. We aren’t getting anything about the wolven so what is the point?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
Yet another book that nothing much happens in. This is the second book in a week without much going on but unlike the other (Smoulder) at least this book has a great deal of heart. Daniel and Lydia we met them first in Claimed she is a Wooden (able to change into a wolf) he is a mercenary. At the end of the first book we learned Daniel had cancer, it's aggressive and deadly. Now months later Daniel has exhausted all conventional medical options and can count his time left in weeks. Luckily for him he's being treated in a facility that has been working on a treatment for cancer and they are ready to start human trials. The catch, the facility is operating under the grid without F.D.A. Approval so it's a very risky prospect......well it would be whatever........Daniel doesn't want the treatment Lydia does, she wants him to fight for them, he wants to just enjoy what time they have left. So that's where thing are a difficult subject but JR Ward handles it expertly, it's probably due to her old job working in a hospital but the scenes are really strong and will resonate with anyone who has dealt with cancer. There is also some side stories featuring Xhex John Matthew and her brother Blaze.,.............only four stars though because it so obviously ends on a cliffhanger.
April 5, 2023
This was weird even by the Warden's standards. Like, really weird.
Is J.R. churning out too many books a year? She's got this Lair of the Wolven (allegedly just a trilogy though), the Prison Camp Series (allegedly with just 1 more book there too), and of course the main BDB line. Plus she had Darius or various "holiday special" books coming out to round off her publishing year. There's a lot going on in the same universe and the East Coast is only so big. To be fair we see a lot of overlapping charcters since they're all connected but like, Xhex hasn't mentioned Lydia or Blade much at all in the orginal series and you'd think that all their drama would be significant given the very serious outcomes we saw play out here. We'll see if it's mentioned in Lassiter...otherwise like, where in the timeline do these books fall?
All that is just a minor rant/complaint though because I really enjoyed this book, I flew through it. Lydia and Daniel were supposed to be the main characters but we hardly saw them. Perhaps because their plot is just grief and learning how to deal with the loss of a loved one and it could really drag if it had the spotlight too long. The small bit of this book that was actually about the Wolven though was just touched upon and not actually explained. Like, how does Blade actually fit into this? And the light at the top of the mountain bit...was Blade the vision or did he interrupt it? I'm so confused.
I can't accurately describe why I liked this book despite it's clear faults. I just enjoyed it. It was different from the usual "war" and shitkicker stomping. It was refreshing to have Xhex and Rehv get some screen time in an intriguing plot that deviated from the norm. Lydia and Daniel and their sadness was interesting to follow. The weird twist about the soldiers is...concerning. How does this fit into the bigger story? What are the implications? Like most questions or plot points for this series it's a "wait and see" I feel. But I'm along for the ride.
Is J.R. churning out too many books a year? She's got this Lair of the Wolven (allegedly just a trilogy though), the Prison Camp Series (allegedly with just 1 more book there too), and of course the main BDB line. Plus she had Darius or various "holiday special" books coming out to round off her publishing year. There's a lot going on in the same universe and the East Coast is only so big. To be fair we see a lot of overlapping charcters since they're all connected but like, Xhex hasn't mentioned Lydia or Blade much at all in the orginal series and you'd think that all their drama would be significant given the very serious outcomes we saw play out here. We'll see if it's mentioned in Lassiter...otherwise like, where in the timeline do these books fall?
All that is just a minor rant/complaint though because I really enjoyed this book, I flew through it. Lydia and Daniel were supposed to be the main characters but we hardly saw them. Perhaps because their plot is just grief and learning how to deal with the loss of a loved one and it could really drag if it had the spotlight too long. The small bit of this book that was actually about the Wolven though was just touched upon and not actually explained. Like, how does Blade actually fit into this? And the light at the top of the mountain bit...was Blade the vision or did he interrupt it? I'm so confused.
I can't accurately describe why I liked this book despite it's clear faults. I just enjoyed it. It was different from the usual "war" and shitkicker stomping. It was refreshing to have Xhex and Rehv get some screen time in an intriguing plot that deviated from the norm. Lydia and Daniel and their sadness was interesting to follow. The weird twist about the soldiers is...concerning. How does this fit into the bigger story? What are the implications? Like most questions or plot points for this series it's a "wait and see" I feel. But I'm along for the ride.
April 4, 2023
Die letzten Seiten hab ich nur noch überflogen.
Eigentlich wollte ich es mehere Male abbrechen, hab es aber dann trotzdem noch weiter versucht.
Ich frag mich warum die Reihe "The Lair of the Wolven" heißt wenn nix in die Richtung passiert. Keine weiteren Wolven zu sehen...
Alles was es auch nach über 360 Seiten gab war das Thema Krebs, Krebs und Krebs, sowie wieder irgendwie BD Charaktere dazwischen geworfen.
Keine Ahnung was Ward sich damit erhofft hat, außer nur Geld zu machen...
Eigentlich wollte ich es mehere Male abbrechen, hab es aber dann trotzdem noch weiter versucht.
Ich frag mich warum die Reihe "The Lair of the Wolven" heißt wenn nix in die Richtung passiert. Keine weiteren Wolven zu sehen...
Alles was es auch nach über 360 Seiten gab war das Thema Krebs, Krebs und Krebs, sowie wieder irgendwie BD Charaktere dazwischen geworfen.
Keine Ahnung was Ward sich damit erhofft hat, außer nur Geld zu machen...
April 2, 2023
Daniel is getting sicker and given two months.. Lydia and Daniel’s relationship to slipping apart…
Gus and Cathy(C.P.) start to get interesting until she informs Gus she is to be patient one for the drug trial… until they find out she is pregnant.. (she was told she was infertile) Gus leaves.. then he finds a legal document had been delivered to his house, that he had ignored.. Cathy had signed the rights to the drug over to him… suddenly he is shot.. just about everyone in this book gets shot at least once.
Rehv tells Xhex she is still has a collapsing grid(!?.) there is never a clear explanation as to why that is happening or what she has to do to fix it.. previous obscure conversations with a wolven on the Deer mountain.
John is shot and it takes a while for the medical team to save him… she decides to try contacting Daniel again.. he missed the previous meet as he was shot in previous book… she thought he had blown her off.
Blade is all set to blow the lab under the mountain on the same night that Xhex meets Daniel and Lydia.. Blade is blown away by Lydia and he realises his vampire side has bonded with her..
Lydia as a wolf went back to mountain and Blade is there.. he is shot by a soldier.. who turns out to be an ANDROID .. of course JR can add whatever she wants to her fantasy stories but this is is getting a bit over the top..
Xhex gets Blade assistance and the Brotherhood take the robot away..
Blade insists he has encountered them before but he doesn’t know who controls them.
Daniel finds out Lydia has been shutting down her life.. gave her car away and her house.. she had gone to the mountain to check on Blade but Daniel got the wrong idea and he takes off. But Blade tracks him down and tells him he loves her but she loves Daniel.. he allowed Daniel to sees Lydia in his memories.. tells him to go and fight for more time with her.. take the drugs..
So L&D apologise to each other and go for a bike ride… until Cathy calls to say Gus is missing..
Books ends
So..
Some questions..
Why did Rehv tell Daniel to call Xhex about finding wolven for Lydia?
Why is this collapsing grid of Xhex’s even a thing…
I am still not sure how Daniel came to be working for Blade.. where did they meet.. and why would Blade threaten Lydia to get Daniel to complete the mission.. in the last book … when Daniel gets shot and so does Lydia..
Why did Xhex say she did not meet anyone on the mountain after Blade sent her there.. How did Blade know who would meet her.. and why when that meeting happens is the message so convoluted ..
Why doesn’t Cathy tell Gus that she is giving the rights of the drug to him.. instead of sending him a letter..
Who is manufacturing robots who all look alike.. what is their mission and why do they always seem aggressively guarding something..
Why do the wolven people seem to be completely absent in this book when most of the ‘action’ takes place on their patch..
I think that Eastwind and Candy are part of that pack
I was disappointed with this book .. my questions are still the same..
Yes there was a lot of information but nothing was resolved and the addition of robots just gets a eye-roll from me..
I am struggling to fix a timeline for this book in relation to the BDB books because none of the last books in that series have spoken about robots.
Gus and Cathy(C.P.) start to get interesting until she informs Gus she is to be patient one for the drug trial… until they find out she is pregnant.. (she was told she was infertile) Gus leaves.. then he finds a legal document had been delivered to his house, that he had ignored.. Cathy had signed the rights to the drug over to him… suddenly he is shot.. just about everyone in this book gets shot at least once.
Rehv tells Xhex she is still has a collapsing grid(!?.) there is never a clear explanation as to why that is happening or what she has to do to fix it.. previous obscure conversations with a wolven on the Deer mountain.
John is shot and it takes a while for the medical team to save him… she decides to try contacting Daniel again.. he missed the previous meet as he was shot in previous book… she thought he had blown her off.
Blade is all set to blow the lab under the mountain on the same night that Xhex meets Daniel and Lydia.. Blade is blown away by Lydia and he realises his vampire side has bonded with her..
Lydia as a wolf went back to mountain and Blade is there.. he is shot by a soldier.. who turns out to be an ANDROID .. of course JR can add whatever she wants to her fantasy stories but this is is getting a bit over the top..
Xhex gets Blade assistance and the Brotherhood take the robot away..
Blade insists he has encountered them before but he doesn’t know who controls them.
Daniel finds out Lydia has been shutting down her life.. gave her car away and her house.. she had gone to the mountain to check on Blade but Daniel got the wrong idea and he takes off. But Blade tracks him down and tells him he loves her but she loves Daniel.. he allowed Daniel to sees Lydia in his memories.. tells him to go and fight for more time with her.. take the drugs..
So L&D apologise to each other and go for a bike ride… until Cathy calls to say Gus is missing..
Books ends
So..
Some questions..
Why did Rehv tell Daniel to call Xhex about finding wolven for Lydia?
Why is this collapsing grid of Xhex’s even a thing…
I am still not sure how Daniel came to be working for Blade.. where did they meet.. and why would Blade threaten Lydia to get Daniel to complete the mission.. in the last book … when Daniel gets shot and so does Lydia..
Why did Xhex say she did not meet anyone on the mountain after Blade sent her there.. How did Blade know who would meet her.. and why when that meeting happens is the message so convoluted ..
Why doesn’t Cathy tell Gus that she is giving the rights of the drug to him.. instead of sending him a letter..
Who is manufacturing robots who all look alike.. what is their mission and why do they always seem aggressively guarding something..
Why do the wolven people seem to be completely absent in this book when most of the ‘action’ takes place on their patch..
I think that Eastwind and Candy are part of that pack
I was disappointed with this book .. my questions are still the same..
Yes there was a lot of information but nothing was resolved and the addition of robots just gets a eye-roll from me..
I am struggling to fix a timeline for this book in relation to the BDB books because none of the last books in that series have spoken about robots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
I can’t say I enjoyed this book, I didn’t find it interesting or entertaining. In fact, I didn't like it at all, not a single thing.
I am so over it. I can’t anymore with J.R. Ward. I used to love her first few books but by know she has become a one trip pony, she only knows how to write about people almost dying/dying. It keeps happening in all her books, sometimes, like in this book, it happens to more than one character. It is so repetitive, I don’t care anymore. Can’t she figure out some other way to have emotional struggle in a book without someone being sick or injured? really?
Moreover, it feels like the POVs that get the least amount of time and story is actually those of the main characters, the rest of the book is filled with a lot of different POVs from other people I don’t care about.
The jealousy thing..., ugh. it was so absurd and ridiculous, I just couldn’t. And the way that jealousy thing was handle, it absolutely ruined both Daniel and Lidia for me, and right at the end of the book too. That was the weirdest choice for a writer, ever. I guess she needed some conflict or something to make it feel like and ending? I don’t know, it was too stupid and old fashioned. I just can’t with that toxic bullshit.
I am also tired of the same audiobook narrator and his theatrical resonance.
Claimed (Lair of the Wolves #1) - 3.5 stars
Mine (Lair of the Wolves #3) - 1 star
I am so over it. I can’t anymore with J.R. Ward. I used to love her first few books but by know she has become a one trip pony, she only knows how to write about people almost dying/dying. It keeps happening in all her books, sometimes, like in this book, it happens to more than one character. It is so repetitive, I don’t care anymore. Can’t she figure out some other way to have emotional struggle in a book without someone being sick or injured? really?
Moreover, it feels like the POVs that get the least amount of time and story is actually those of the main characters, the rest of the book is filled with a lot of different POVs from other people I don’t care about.
The jealousy thing..., ugh. it was so absurd and ridiculous, I just couldn’t. And the way that jealousy thing was handle, it absolutely ruined both Daniel and Lidia for me, and right at the end of the book too. That was the weirdest choice for a writer, ever. I guess she needed some conflict or something to make it feel like and ending? I don’t know, it was too stupid and old fashioned. I just can’t with that toxic bullshit.
I am also tired of the same audiobook narrator and his theatrical resonance.
Claimed (Lair of the Wolves #1) - 3.5 stars
Mine (Lair of the Wolves #3) - 1 star
May 14, 2023
I enjoyed this Wolven story more than the earlier ones.
I am really looking forward to Blade's story, especially his backstory. He is turning out to be a very interesting character.
I am really looking forward to Blade's story, especially his backstory. He is turning out to be a very interesting character.
September 7, 2023
SO much sadness. I think it's setting the stage for something big to happen down the line. I can't wait to see how this converges with the main series.
May 30, 2023
I didn't realize this one was a cliffhanger too. Ready for the next one!
June 3, 2023
June 3rd 2023.
Ok wow that was a lot of characters I do not know NOR do I care about. I just cannot with JR Ward. A lot of people said Claimed was the best book Ward had ever written and I'm sad to say it might be the only book that's worth giving the time of day, that she's written. Listening to this was like listening to I don't know... nails on a chalkboard? A professor droning on about variable equations? I think not. I finished it, but at what cost precisely?
April 17th 2023.
DNF @ 15% having lost half of my adult family to cancer I didn’t enjoy this. It was horrible. I couldn’t get past Daniel’s suffering.
Ok wow that was a lot of characters I do not know NOR do I care about. I just cannot with JR Ward. A lot of people said Claimed was the best book Ward had ever written and I'm sad to say it might be the only book that's worth giving the time of day, that she's written. Listening to this was like listening to I don't know... nails on a chalkboard? A professor droning on about variable equations? I think not. I finished it, but at what cost precisely?
April 17th 2023.
DNF @ 15% having lost half of my adult family to cancer I didn’t enjoy this. It was horrible. I couldn’t get past Daniel’s suffering.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2023
I've been so eager to read this follow up story with Lydia and Daniel! We get to meet males from the black dagger brotherhood, and we learn more of Xhex's background . I absolutely loved this! A fangtastic story of true love and how devastatingly unfair life can be.
5 of 5 Daggers up for this book!
5 of 5 Daggers up for this book!
May 3, 2023
Forever
The Lair of the Wolven, Book 2
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: R Public Library
Dates Read: 4/26/23 - 4/28/23
Stars: 3.5
Narrator(s): Jim Frangonie
The Characters:
Lydia Susi:
Daniel Joseph:
C P Fallon, Dr Gus, Alex/Hex, Blade
The Story:
I spent a lot of time trying to remember the who, what, when, where and whys of the first book. I suppose it’s been too long since I read it. I needed it because this book felt like it needed more context. It also felt like it didn’t have a real conclusion. There are very many hanging threads. I’m somewhat impatiently waiting for the next step.
The Random Thoughts:
The Lair of the Wolven, Book 2
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: R Public Library
Dates Read: 4/26/23 - 4/28/23
Stars: 3.5
Narrator(s): Jim Frangonie
The Characters:
Lydia Susi:
Daniel Joseph:
C P Fallon, Dr Gus, Alex/Hex, Blade
The Story:
I spent a lot of time trying to remember the who, what, when, where and whys of the first book. I suppose it’s been too long since I read it. I needed it because this book felt like it needed more context. It also felt like it didn’t have a real conclusion. There are very many hanging threads. I’m somewhat impatiently waiting for the next step.
The Random Thoughts:
Read
December 19, 2024I will finish the trilogy to see what's up with Xhex. Blade seems interesting. Everyone else can hurry up with their dying or whatever.
November 29, 2023
Uhg! Seriously, this audiobook should have been a 5 hour novella, not a 10 hour snore fest. Daniel has cancer and is dying. He refuses to take C. P.'s vita 12 B (yes, that's what the Warden's calling it) experimental drug. Lydia, the wolven shifter and his gf, is freaking out over him dying. Rehvenge thinks that Xhex's collapsing grid is causing her to kill vampires and scoop out their eyes. We later find out that Daniel might have been the one killing them and they are some sort of robots, and not vampires. (WTF?) Xhex's brother, Blade, see's Lydia and becomes bonded to her, even though he's gay. After Gus, the head researcher, and C. P. figure out they have feelings for each other, he gets shot in the chest. It's unclear if he's dead. John Mathew gets shot in the chest and almost dies after taking a bullet to save Tohr in a human drug deal gone wrong. It ends with Blade promising he'll stay away from Lydia and Xhex not knowing that he's taken out 12 labs over the years to ease his guilt over his part in her being sold to one. C. P.'s own cancer is back and she has to halt treatment because she's pregnant with a rando guard's baby. That rando guard was killed by Blade. Blade decides not to take out C. P.'s research facility because Lydia promises him that she's not holding vamps and experimenting on them. We learn that Blade is Daniel's former employer and he was tasked with taking the facility down. Daniel's marriage proposal is interrupted with a frantic call from C. P., asking him to help find Gus. Will Daniel die or will Blade? How does a bonded male stay away from his female?
I just want to ask my BDB group if there are any more mentions of Rehv or the brothers in Mine when it comes out in 2024. Does Xhex's grid get better? Who's behind the robots and are they what Rehv thought she was killing and scooping the eyes out of? Does Daniel or Blade die? Does C. P. have her baby? Is Gus alive?
I just want to ask my BDB group if there are any more mentions of Rehv or the brothers in Mine when it comes out in 2024. Does Xhex's grid get better? Who's behind the robots and are they what Rehv thought she was killing and scooping the eyes out of? Does Daniel or Blade die? Does C. P. have her baby? Is Gus alive?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
Verbose
The plot is actually great, but the amount of descriptions that Ward used in this book made it unnecessary lengthy and slow paced. This book could have easily been better edited and I'm afraid it wasn't edited purposefully to force a continuation. I really don't think this story needed to be a trilogy, considering that all the important things that actually happened here made less than 50% of the book. Everything else were fillers. I feel that this spin off series is, unfortunately, just a money grubber.
The plot is actually great, but the amount of descriptions that Ward used in this book made it unnecessary lengthy and slow paced. This book could have easily been better edited and I'm afraid it wasn't edited purposefully to force a continuation. I really don't think this story needed to be a trilogy, considering that all the important things that actually happened here made less than 50% of the book. Everything else were fillers. I feel that this spin off series is, unfortunately, just a money grubber.
June 6, 2023
I’m a huge fan of Ward and the BDB series. This book however through me for a loop. I had to fight to finish it.
I don’t know if anyone who doesn’t know someone who has died of cancer. Most people I know have had someone close to them be stolen from this terrible disease while they watched helplessly. This book slammed me back into that time.
This was one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read. I wish I would have never opened the cover. Do yourself a favor and just don’t.
I don’t know if anyone who doesn’t know someone who has died of cancer. Most people I know have had someone close to them be stolen from this terrible disease while they watched helplessly. This book slammed me back into that time.
This was one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read. I wish I would have never opened the cover. Do yourself a favor and just don’t.
April 13, 2023
It was okay, but I felt like I was watching a filler episode of a TV show with this book. Dragged on until the end and then leaves you hanging for the next book. Read a million of her books . . . Not her best.
March 30, 2023
It only got stars because Rehvenge was in it.
April 14, 2024
DNF at 40% - even I don’t hate myself this much.
September 6, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ Full honesty, the “lair of the wolven” series has not been my favorite of the side-series, but I enjoyed this one more than the first. The plot moved quicker & we got more insights to characters. There were some things that felt like they came out of left field, but okay??
Daniel & Lydia, I am hoping for a happy ending. Cathy & Gus also better get a hea, I swear to god. I didn’t wanna like Blade but I guess I do now, so RIP me. Finally, can we please, PLEASE give Xhex & John Matthew a break, for the love of god?!
Daniel & Lydia, I am hoping for a happy ending. Cathy & Gus also better get a hea, I swear to god. I didn’t wanna like Blade but I guess I do now, so RIP me. Finally, can we please, PLEASE give Xhex & John Matthew a break, for the love of god?!
May 14, 2023
I enjoyed more of Lydia and Daniel and I liked listening to Jim Frangione bring these characters to life! Lydia and Daniel are having a hard time. Sometimes life isn’t fair. This book has some interesting twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It held my attention and I was invested. There were a few gasp moments and at times I was afraid of the outcome. And there are still questions remaining. Looking forward to the next book.
May 23, 2023
Quickie Review ~ I listened to the audiobook instead of reading Forever so I'm honestly not sure if it was the format or the story itself that had my emotions all tied up in knots. So. Much. Pain. And. Grief. Between Daniel's diagnosis, Lydia wondering if she'll lose him and have to move on, things going on in CP's life, Gus's backstory & the bit of a cliffhanger ending in his regard. Plus, we had Xhex and John Matthew going through their own situation, along with someone from her past resurfacing. It was a lot. But as with all of J.R. Ward's work, I was completely captivated.
March 29, 2023
Prepare For More Ward Greatness
While the BDB fandom excitedly await Lassiter, we are gifted the second book of the Wolven series. It continues with Lydia and Daniel, and Xhex and John Matthew have supporting roles. I love all of Ward's work; she never disappoints.
While the BDB fandom excitedly await Lassiter, we are gifted the second book of the Wolven series. It continues with Lydia and Daniel, and Xhex and John Matthew have supporting roles. I love all of Ward's work; she never disappoints.
March 31, 2023
Well, hell! When I'm too long without reading a J.R.Ward book I almost forget the depth of emotion she can pull out of me and this time around it was no different. I both loved and dreaded this book with everything going on with Daniel's health. Plus, the subplot with Blade fucked me up. I fell in love with him too and now I'm feeling torn. No one better than the WARDen to fuck her readers up...in a good way of course. LOL
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