
Lassiter (The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, Bk. 21)
by Ward, J. R.
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Overview
The fallen angel finally gets his story — and #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward makes it one worth waiting for. Lassiter has always walked the line between chaos and salvation, and he's very, very good at tipping the scales. Too good, it turns out. As the supernatural overseer of vampire fates, he's been nudging outcomes he was never meant to touch — and now the Creator is calling him home to answer for it. But leaving Caldwell isn't as simple as it sounds. Lassiter has bonded with a mysterious female who appeared seemingly out of nowhere, a woman with powers that defy all rational explanation. She pulls at something in him that duty alone can't explain away. Her name is Rahvyn, and she knows she doesn't belong here. The present was never meant to be her home — the past is where she's always been destined to return. Still, Lassiter is not easy to walk away from, and she lets herself fall. Then a secret he's been hiding comes to light. Suddenly Rahvyn has to ask a question she doesn't want answered: is what he feels for her truly love, or is she simply another soul he's obligated to save? Meanwhile, the war the Brotherhood thought was behind them is stirring again. The Omega's son is rebuilding the Lessening Society, and the deadly conflict with the vampires is about to reignite. Destiny, duty, and desire are all on a collision course — and not everyone will make it through unscathed. "A beloved character takes the helm in a book that leads the series into uncharted waters." - Kirkus Reviews
Series Information
Series Name: The Black Dagger Brotherhood
Series Reading Order
This series is best read in the following recommended order, which integrates main series novels with companion novellas and spin-off series to maintain narrative flow. The series is ongoing.
Book 1 - Dark Lover
Book 2 - Lover Eternal
Book 3 - Lover Awakened
Book 4 - Lover Revealed
Book 5 - Lover Unbound
Book 6 - Lover Enshrined
Novella, In the Black Dagger Brotherhood World - Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella's Story
Book 7 - Lover Avenged
Book 8 - Lover Mine
Book 9 - Lover Unleashed
Book 10 - Lover Reborn
Book 11 - Lover at Last
Book 12 - The King
Book 13 - The Shadows
Book 14 - The Beast
Book 15 - The Chosen
Novella, In the Black Dagger Brotherhood World - Dearest Ivie
Book 16 - The Thief
Novella, In the Black Dagger Brotherhood World - Prisoner of Night
Book 17 - The Savior
Novella, In the Black Dagger Brotherhood World - Where Winter Finds You
Book 18 - The Sinner
Book 19 - Lover Unveiled
Book 20 - Lover Arisen
Book 21 - Lassiter
Book 22 - The Beloved
Novella, In the Black Dagger Brotherhood World - A Bloom in Winter
Book 23 - Lover Forbidden
Book 24 - Lover Enthroned
Reviews and Author Praise
"Ward's latest in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Lover Arisen, 2022) has it all—danger, sex, violent action, swoon-worthy romance, and an ending that will leave readers reeling. Seriously."
— Booklist
"A shocking twist at the end displays Ward’s willingness to boldly reinvent the long-running series, leaving open fascinating new pathways for future books."
— Kirkus Reviews
"LASSITER is a complicated story about love and faith, while also weaving in a tale of suspense and psychos."
— Fresh Fiction
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Slow Burn
Forbidden Love
Opposites Attract
He Falls First
Second Chance Romance
Key Themes
Fallen angel facing divine reckoning — Lassiter must answer to the Creator for meddling with fates he was never meant to touch.
Love questioned by hidden secrets — Rahvyn must decide if Lassiter's feelings are real or just another soul-saving obligation.
A time-displaced woman finding belonging — Rahvyn knows the present isn't her home, yet lets herself fall anyway.
War reignited by an old enemy's heir — the Omega's son rebuilds the Lessening Society, threatening the Brotherhood's hard-won peace.
Duty colliding with desire — a supernatural overseer risks everything when his heart overrules his celestial purpose.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Paranormal Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5: Very Spicy
Turning up the heat! Multiple steamy scenes with clear, descriptive detail and strong chemistry. Romance and spice share the spotlight here.
Fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series will enjoy the richly built vampire world, fallen angel mythology, and steamy romance woven through high-stakes supernatural war.
About the Author
J.R. Ward is the author of more than sixty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than twenty million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-seven different countries. She lives in the south with her family.
Similar Authors
Reader FAQs
It sits on the heavier end of the series emotionally. The central romance turns on questions of faith, sincerity, and whether love can exist when obligation is also present. Fresh Fiction describes it as a complicated story about love and faith, layered with suspense.
Both build extensive supernatural worlds with warrior protectors, fallen angel mythology, and steamy romance. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series leans into a tighter ensemble cast and an ongoing vampire war, while Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series spreads across a broader pantheon of mythologies.
The book is written for an adult audience. It carries a high spice level and contains mature content including explicit romance and graphic supernatural violence. It is not suitable for readers under 18.
The book contains explicit sexual content, graphic violence related to vampire warfare, and themes of divine judgment and existential threat. Readers sensitive to morally complex power dynamics in romance should note that the central relationship involves questions of manipulation and obligation.
The romance is a slow burn. Lassiter falls first, and the relationship is complicated by hidden secrets and Rahvyn's uncertainty about whether his feelings are genuine. Trust builds gradually against the backdrop of an escalating supernatural conflict.
Info
ISBN: 9781982180027
Published Date: April 11, 2023
Publisher: Gallery Books
Language: English
Page Count: 464
Size: 9.35" l x 6.37" w x 1.46" h
Category
Fiction