I am definitely not going to spoil one single thing in this review by telling you anything other than what’s in the synopsis. The story is told in such an incredible method that you are reading with bated breath knowing that something is going to happen but you don’t know what or when.

This book is a very slow build, focusing mainly on the two main characters along with other secondary characters, twists, and pieces that are going on around them.

Yes, the Black Dagger Brotherhood is involved but that’s as far as I’m going to say about that. If you have any love for this author, you will want to definitely grab this book.

The bad news is because the ends on a cliffhanger, we are going to be just itching to find out what’s going to happen in subsequent novels. How this woman writes with such subtlety amazes me!

Ward continues to surprise the reader with her intricate development in both her stories and her characters. The interweaving is incredible and yet she manages to focus on singular characters as well. I cannot get enough of this author and the fact she has an incredible ability to magically interlace the story in ways which will make your heart race and sing too!

Wow!!! This is not at all what I was expecting. You think you know Ward’s writing but this is different , fresh and shocking.
I’ve been a fan since the first BBD book and some are way better than others. This book is in a whole different category. We’ve had hints of this coming for a long time and it did not disappoint one bit.

Lydia Susi is all about protecting her wolves but a lot of strange things have been happening. Her grandfather taught her well. She sees things others don’t.

If you wanted your future to come to you, you went alone into the forest in the veil, during that sacred transition of night into morning.

Daniel Joseph is a drifter. When he comes to the Wolf Institute for a job there attraction is immediate but forbidden. He’s a mystery she wants to solve.

Reality is like a coin. It has a front and a back, and you can only see one side at a time.”

We do get glimpses of the Brothers that weave right into the storyline.

This is gonna be a great series. A little bit slow at the start but not for long. The ending just makes me want the next book now.

Y'allllllll. It's been a fair while since I dipped my toes into the BDB world (for no reason other than life and stuff) and WHAT THE WHAT why has it been so long? Seriously. This place is whacked out and slightly feral and I completely forgot how much enjoyed spending time in it.

That said, this book is sort of BDB adjacent. As in, we get some references to the boys and a few scenes with Xhex and John Matthew, but it's not their story. Nope, this is Lydia and Daniel's story. Or at least part of their story. (I mean that in a good way. We get resolution on the main storyline here, but they still have a way to go to get to their REALLY happy place. And I think the next part will bring Xhex front and center. Yesssss!)

Anywho. Let's talk about Lydia and her wolves. She's all about her work and she's in a not so great place when we first meet her. By that, I mean the work she loves is short on cash to keep things running and things keep happening to the wolves that she is NOT okay with. The deeper she digs into the whos and the whys of what's going on, the more dangerous things become.

Daniel is a complication. While he takes up some of the slack around the job and helps them stay running, he's also a distraction. And a mystery. And dangerous in his own right. He also keeps Lydia safe when she runs into trouble and does his best to lighten her load where he can.

We got some glimpses of the boys in Caldwell (and a moment with Rehv!), some mysterious goings on with the townsfolk, and answers that lead to more questions, in some cases. Like I said, though, Lydia and Daniel's story is far from over and Xhex needs to figure out a few things before she crashes and burns. In other words, I am ALL IN to see what happens next!

Claimed by J.R. Ward is the first installment in the new Lair of Wolven series.
Lydia and Daniel are very different from each other. One is a drifter, one, yes you can call this person a determined activist, maybe a tree hugger in the best sense.
Both their fates are destined to come together at one point, put someone of the BDB in the mix , plus an outstanding and absolutely gripping storyline - and voila, you have one of the best reads in 21.

This author is in a league all of her own. With her Black Dagger Brotherhood Series she changed my life, literally. I fell for her characters, made them mine, all mine. I hurt with them, fought with them, loved with them. They're deeply anchored into my heart. I adore the exquisite writing just like the twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter til the last page. An unputdownable read.

I highly recommend this complex, action packed and slow burn, this emotional read that had me ugly crying more than one time. Be prepared, you'll need tissues. The story put me through the wringer, tore me apart and in the end put me back together. And now I'm sitting here, anticipating, and can't wait for the next installment to release.