Blood Fury by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Legacy #3)
Released: January 9, 2018
Paranormal Romance (m/f and m/m)
Ballantine Books

Reviewed by Mandi

This spin-off series of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, is still BDB….just with a new crew of warriors. But the veterans are still roaming the halls, and making appearances.

Blood Fury gives us two romances – Peyton and Novo, two trainees in the brotherhood fighting program, who start off the book more as enemies, and it takes a bit for them to move past hate sex to –oh wait, I love you. Peyton had very intense, romantic feelings towards another trainee, Paradise, but if you have read this series, you know she got a HEA with another male. Peyton is still in love with her and has a hard time working with her on a daily basis. Novo is trying to prove herself as a fighter in this male dominated field, and when she gets injured, she feels like she has to prove herself even more. Peyton is always lurking in the background, and they start this hate/sex/lustful thing until their feelings turn much more romantic.

The other couple, and the reason I really anticipated this book, is Saxton and Ruhn. Saxton is Wrath’s solicitor, once lover of Blay, and has had a hard time moving past that break-up. Ruhn is Bitty’s uncle. Readers of this series will remember Bitty, who is Rhage and Mary’s adopted daughter. Ruhn moved into the brotherhood compound with Bitty, and has stayed around. He feels like he isn’t doing enough to earn his keep (although the brotherhood expects nothing from him, and considers him family).

When there is a land dispute, Saxton has to make a lot of trips out to a house to try to get some paperwork in order, and Wrath sends Ruhn as Saxton’s bodyguard in case danger breaks out. As these two spend time together, they realize they have feelings for each other, something that really surprises Ruhn, as he has only had feelings for women in the past. Ruhn has a dark, tortuous past, and that angsty torture still looms around him. He is super quiet and always down on himself. I really enjoyed his pairing with Saxton.

In lieu of a reply, Ruhn walked forward…and it was about when he was halfway across the distance that separated them that Saxton realized…

The male was aroused.

Ruhn had not come here for a never-again, but rather for some more.

Saxton’s body responded instantly, his blood rushing, his cock hardening, his annoyance, frustration, and exhaustion instantly evaporating.

As the other male came to a halt with mere inches between their faces, Saxton had to smile a little.”I guess I read this wrong, huh.”

“Yes,” came the growl. “You did.”

Holy from-out-of-nowhere.

Ruhn took hold of Saxton by either side of the throat and yanked him forward, the male’s kiss nothing tentative or shy, nothing experimental

Ward splits page time pretty evenly for these two couples, and best of all, there are no other storylines to take away from these romances. While Sax and Ruhn are fighting a land dispute, and Peyton and Novo are dealing with an injury, most of the page time is devoted to building up their romance and relationship. V, Rhage and Wrath all make brief appearances (yay!) but no other distractions take away from the two HEAs.

This is just a really fun addition to the series. Super sexy, a few laughs and two couples that I really enjoyed. We even heard the distant screams of Assail down the corridor a few times. A sure sign that he is still suffering until his book comes out this spring.

Grade: B+

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