The Black Dagger Brotherhood is known for being one of the very best series within the paranormal romance genre, and currently has a main series plus three spin-off series, too!
But, which way should you read this series? From chronological order to publication order, which option is going to be the best?
If you are currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that you’ve come to the right article. In this guide, I’m going to be sharing with you the best way to read the Black Dagger series by J.R. Ward.
And that’s not all! Along with providing you with the ultimate reading order, I’m also going to be providing you with additional insight into what you can expect to get from this series as a whole.
So, without further ado, just keep on reading to discover the best order to read the Black Dagger series by J.R. Ward! Read on.
About The Black Dagger Brotherhood
So, before we get any further into this guide, I first think that it would be a good idea to provide you with some insight into what this series is all about.
That way, you’re going to be in a much better position to decide for yourself whether or not this series is going to be a good reading choice for you. What is Black Dagger Brotherhood all about?
Well, this series is essentially a paranormal-romance series that places a heavy emphasis on vampire mythology.
Over the course of the series, there is a brewing tension between vampires and their slayers in Caldwell, New York, and the promise of an upcoming war.
Each installment of the series focuses on a new brother of the Brotherhood, including their past, present and Beloved partner.
At the time of writing, there is still an upcoming book that is planning to be released in April of 2023. Here are some of the themes explored:
Betrayal
Life and Death
Romance
Familial Ties
Justice
The paranormal
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Reading Order
By far, the very best way that you can read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is by order of publication.
Not only is this recommended for readers old and new to the series, but reading the series in order of publication will also ensure that you will be able to enjoy the best reading experience possible, as it will be read in the way that the author intended.
Along with this, opting to read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by order of publication will also ensure that you are able to read this series with the optimum story continuation and flow of the plot.
So, without further ado, let’s go ahead and learn the order in which you should be reading the books, as well as a little bit of information about each one, too:
The first book in the series, Dark Lover is the first installment in this extremely popular series and also just so happens to be a #1 New York Times bestselling novel, too! So, what can you expect from this first book in the series?
As the only purebred vampire that is left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath is on a quest to find the person who killed his parents many centuries ago.
However, Wrath’s determination to hunt down his parent’s killer is brought to a halt when his most reliable fighter is killed and he is forced to orphan a half-breed daughter.
Introduced as Beth Randall, Wrath soon begins to tell Beth all about his tales of the Brotherhood.
Though she is frightened and scared of Wrath, she is also deeply intrigued by him and can’t help but feel attracted to him by a hunger that is so strong it could consume them both.
Pros
Creative, dark, and gripping.
Heavily focused on the paranormal and vampires.
Described as being “Adrenaline-pumping!”
Cons
Some readers describe the plot as having minor holes in certain places.
In the second installment in the series, we are introduced to some new characters. In Lover Eternal, the focus is placed on Rhage, a warrior vampire who is described as having the “strongest of appetites”.
He has been cursed to endure 200 years of hell, but when he meets Mary Luce – an innocent human, he finds himself encountering a feeling that he hasn’t felt in centuries: love.
With enemies drawing near, Mary and Rhage find themselves falling deeper in love, despite the worry that it might never last. Can they both share a life together that will last forever?
Pros
Introduced to new characters.
Thrilling and heavily focused on romance.
Easy to read and gripping.
Cons
Some readers find the plot difficult to follow from the first book.
In the third installment, the story centers itself around the war raging between vampires and the slayers, not to mention an underground group of brothers more deadly than others – the 6 vampire warriors.
One of them is known as Zsadist, and is the scariest member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Lover Awakened follows Zsadist and his past until he falls for an aristocrat that he rescued. Can she help him overcome the wounds of the past?
Offering more plot continuation than ever before, Lover Revealed is also centered around the raging war in New York.
In this fourth installment, you’ll meet Butch O’Neal who has a penchant for fighting and is the only human that has ever been allowed to be a member of the 6 brothers.
He falls for an aristocratic vampire who falls right back, but when he sacrifices himself for a civilian, it’s up to his love, Marissa, to bring him back. Can she do it?
Pros
Fast-paced and a “race against the clock” style story.
Described as being ruthless and evil, Lover Unbound focuses on Vishous, who is another member of the brotherhood. He’s known for being destructive and deadly and has the unique ability to see into the future.
Vishous also has no desire for love, that is, until he meets a human surgeon and falls deep. Can he change his ways?
Pros
Thrilling and engaging.
Paranormal genre full of romance.
Easy to read and gripping.
Cons
Some find it to be a little hard to engage with at points.
In book six, Lover Enshrined, the plot opens with a dutiful twin being forced to choose between two lives.
Even though Phury has willingly volunteered to keep the Black Dagger Brotherhood bloodlines alive, when he starts to fall deep for the chosen Cormla, he’ll need to choose between his head and his heart.
Pros
Lots of focus on forbidden love.
Easy to read and entertaining.
Sharp, clear, and purposeful dialogue.
Cons
Lots of readers wish that the romance between Phury and Cormla was explored in more detail.
Ever since the birth of his baby girl, Zsadist has been tormented by the pain and torture of the past.
Despite having a beautiful partner and a baby girl, Zsadist finds himself experiencing nightmares so bad each night that he wakes up in a cold sweat. Can he overcome his troubles and come back to the present before all is lost?
Pros
Lots of new characters to get to know.
Easy to read and entertaining.
Cons
Some readers find this installment to add nothing to the overall series.
Rehvenge, known as a half-breed, is all too familiar with hiding in the shadows. He’s a club owner and is tough – so tough that he can even handle some of the Brothers.
Rehvenge is keeping a dark secret, and when the Brotherhood comes to him for allegiance, Rehvenge is at risk of being exposed. What will he do?
Pros
New characters!
Easy to read and entertaining.
Lots of passion, ideal for those that enjoy romance.
Cons
Some find this book can be repetitive in certain places.
Payne, who is the twin sister of Vishous, shares the same personality as her brother. After being prisoned by their mother for years, she finally frees herself and soon meets Manuel Manello – a human surgeon.
When their worlds collide, the two find themselves falling in love fast, but with so much going against them – can love conquer all?
Pros
Focus on female agency and freedom.
Easy to read with plenty of clear dialogue.
Cons
Some feel that the romance sub-genre does not add to the agency of Payne.
Tohrment is back in the Brotherhood but he is no longer the fierce leader that he once was. Not only is he physically weak, but he is also heartbroken beyond repair.
In his dreams, Tohrment is visited by a self-serving fallen angel who tells him that he has to let go of his beloved and find someone else for the greater good.
That’s when Tohrment knows that his fat, and everyone else’s, is doomed. Can he find his strength before it’s too late?
Pros
Lots of romance helps to drive the plot forward.
Sharp and clear dialogue.
Cons
Some readers find that the plot structure is repetitive.
In the twelfth installment, tensions are rising in Caldwell, New York. Qhuinn, described as being the son of no one – has seemingly gotten used to being on his own.
Finally, he has established himself as a brutal fighter and has the chance to build a family of his own.
But, there’s just one thing standing in the way of his new future – the love he lost from his past. Can Qhuinn find the courage to find closure?
Pros
Heavy emphasis on the theme “light and dark”.
Easy to follow and has a great story flow.
New characters.
Cons
Some readers feel that the dialogue isn’t as sharp as it could be.
After turning his back on the royal bloodline, Wrath finally decides to sit on the throne with his queen.
But, with the threat of war looming from the Lessening Society, Wrath is soon forced to make a choice that will put everyone at risk – including his beloved human Beth.
Pros
Growing tension between the Brotherhood and the slayers.
In this fourteenth installment of the series, two brothers are bound by much more than blood as they fight to change their scary destiny.
Trez and iAm are bound by responsibility and brotherly love, and it isn’t until chosen by Selena that Trez is able to turn his life around – the one thing that iAm has been tasked with achieving.
Despite falling for Selena, the pledge that Trez made to be with the Queen’s daughter hasn’t been forgotten, and he’s going to have to decide between his heart and his responsibility.
Will iAm make the ultimate sacrifice for Trez’s happiness?
Pros
New themes are explored including familial ties.
New characters.
Cons
Some readers have stated this book’s plot can be hard to follow at certain times.
The Beaster centers itself around Rhage, the member of the Brotherhood who has the biggest of appetites.
Despite his bloodthirst, Rhage is also known for having a big heart, which explains why he loves Mary who is his beloved shellan.
Still, Rhage can’t understand why, when everything is seemingly going right in his life, he’s feeling panic and fear of the unknown.
Rhage needs time to go within and figure out what he is feeling, but Mary is on a whirlwind adventure of her own, and it’s either going to bring them closer or tear them apart forever.
Pros
Excellent continuation of the plot.
Great dialogue that helps to drive the story forward.
New characters.
Cons
Some readers find it hard to connect with the main character: Rhage.
In the 16th installment of the series, a forbidden love threatens to tear a rift between the Brotherhood like never before. We’re introduced to Xcor and Layla, a couple that loves each other but has separated due to differences.
When Xcor is sentenced to death by the Brotherhood, the only regret he has is the way things went with Layla…but little does he know that Layla plans to save his life. Can she do it just in the nick of time?
This is an exclusive ebook in the series, but many fans of the series find it to be well worth the read.
Telling the tale of a passionate couple doomed by their desire, you’ll meet Ivie and Silas, who soon find themselves falling deeply in love with each other after meeting in a crowded bar.
When Silar announces that he has to leave to go back to the Old Country, Ivie learns the truth and is determined to find a solution that will allow them to be together. Can a saving grace be found just in the nick of time?
Pros
Plenty of romance and vampire mythology!
Adds depth and interest to the Brotherhood universe as a whole.
Cons
Exclusive ebooks might not be suitable for those that prefer to read physical copies.
A former burglar and thief, Sola Mrote has made the choice to leave her past life behind. She’s on the run from a drug lord’s family and hiding in Caldwell while caring for her grandmother.
Despite her body being in New York, her heart is with Assail, a vampire who swore he’d never fall for a human. That is until he met Sola.
Sola is unaware that he is a vampire, and that he is a member of the Brotherhood. Now that Assail wants to turn his back on it all, is there a future for the two of them?
Pros
Focus on female agency.
New themes of female agency and betrayal are explored.
Cons
Some find that the romance takes away from Sola’s story somewhat.
Prisoner of Night is thrilling and passionate and focuses on Ahmare whose brother has just been abducted.
Determined to find her brother, Ahmare finds herself embarking on a dangerous quest that will lead her into a world that she once thought only existed in fairytales.
Along the way, she also meets Duran, a vampire betrayed by his father and imprisoned in a dungeon. She sets him free and the two falls in love, but Is true love enough to find her brother?
Pros
Passionate with a heavy focus on romance.
Great continuation of the looming tensions in Caldwell with new characters for added interest.
Cons
Some readers have stated this book can be hard to follow at certain times.
In the twentieth installment of this series, the tale follows Murhder – the only Brother in the Brotherhood that has ever been expelled from the gang.
When he meets Dr. Sarah Watkins, a researcher at a biomedical firm, it seems as though fate is trying to bring the two together. Will the two be able to create a connection that brings humans and vampires together for the first time?
Pros
New characters allow the paranormal and romance themes to be explored.
Good flow and plot continuation.
Cons
Some have described this book as being “out of place” with the rest of the series.
After Trez loses his love to a sad and tragic death, his soul is left in tatters and his destiny seems to be damned to suffering from here on out.
But, upon a chance meeting with a beautiful female, he soon feels a spark begin to re-emerge within himself. Moreso, he’s convinced that it is his true love reincarnated. Is he right?
In this passionate novel, Syn has kept his side hustle as a mercenary a secret from the Brotherhood.
But, after taking on a particular hit job, he finds himself encountering a half-breed on the danger of drying when she transitions: Jo. Jo Early doesn’t yet know her true nature, but she knows one thing: she feels deeply pulled to Syn.
As time begins to run out, Jo finds herself getting caught up in the fighting and has to assist the Brotherhood against the ultimate threat. But, will her true love prevail? Or was the prophecy incorrect this whole time?
Pros
Engaging and clear dialogue that drives the plot forward.
Gripping and page-turning.
Cons
There are a few minor characters that some feel bring nothing to the plot.
This book features one of the most popular couples in the entire series so far: Blay and Qhuinn! In this installment, the two are looking forward to their marriage ceremony.
However, when a tragedy occurs right before the big day, the brotherhood rallies around them to help make sure that the day goes ahead. Can the day be saved? Or will the horrible storm put an end to the plans?
Pros
Great story continuation from previous installments.
Adds additional texture and interest to the universe of the Brotherhood.
Heavy focus on one of the most popular couples.
Cons
Some readers feel this book is a “filler” installment.
In this next installment of the series, true love threatened to end the brotherhood. After becoming possessed by a demon, Balthazar finds himself once again fighting an undying attraction he feels for a woman.
As a certified thief, he’s used to stealing things, he just never thought that it would be a human that would steal something from him: his heart.
Devina, a human that longs for love, knows that something is up in New York – but what’s going on, exactly?
With rising counts of mutilated bodies all over Caldwell, Devina suddenly finds herself fighting her longing for Balthazar, but can the one thing that brings them together cause the destruction of the Brotherhood?
Pros
Heavily centered on the Brotherhood.
Good continuation of the plot.
Cons
Might not be suitable for those who don’t enjoy romance.
In the final book that has been released in the series so far, the story continues as the reader is introduced that the location of the prison camp is still lost from the raids.
When a freak accident occurs, Nyx gets the clue that her sister might still be in prison and is suddenly determined to discover the twisting labyrinth jail which leads her on a journey into the unknown. Can she find her sister?
Pros
Focus on female agency and freedom.
Easy to read and gripping.
Cons
Some readers have stated this book can be hard to follow at certain times.
Final Thoughts
You’ve made it to the end! Now that you have taken the time to read through this guide, I hope that you now have a much better idea of what you can expect from this extremely popular paranormal-romance series.
As well as that, I hope that this guide has also helped to give you a clearer idea of what the best order to read the books will be.
As we have discussed above, even though there are a few different orders that this book series that can be read, it is highly recommended that you read this series in publication order, as this will help to ensure that you are able to enjoy this series with optimum enjoyment, a continuation of plot and more.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide, and goodbye for now! I hope you enjoy reading the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Order To Read Black Dagger Brotherhood?
If you have already begun to do your own research into this series, then I’m sure that you’ll have discovered that there is more than one way to read this series.
However, it is recommended that you read this series in publication order, otherwise you might find that the continuation of the story is a little jumbled and hard to follow.
How Many Books Are In The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series?
This is a great question to ask, and one that many prospective readers of the series find themselves asking!
As one of the bigger series in the paranormal-romance genre, Black Dagger Brotherhood currently has 27 books in the series and counting!
Not to mention, there are also additional spin-off series to this extremely popular series, too.
Is There Another Book Being Released In The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series?
Yes, there is another book being released in the Black Dagger Book Series!
At the time of writing this guide, the book has not hit the shelves, and it has just recently been announced that the release date for the next book in the series will be in April 2023.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
