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Review
4.5 Qhuay-lovin’ stars!
Oh Qhuinn! How I love you! From a scrawny pre-trans, through heartache, trauma, your slutty years and beyond, you have always had a special place in my heart. And Blay – sweet, gentle and trustworthy, you have been the strong and steady one in the background.
Like the rest of the BDB fandom, I have been eagerly awaiting Qhuinn and Blay finally getting their HEA, and although it took a while (and seemed to get a bit lost in everything else that was going on), they got it! And it was awesome.
Firstly though, there is SO much going on in this book! Aside from all of the Qhuay drama, there is:
- The Layla drama – which I actually really enjoyed, even if it was drawn out. And I have to say, I’m loving seeing Layla find some backbone. She has some great moments in this book, and her verbal smackdown was spectacular!
- Major developments for Trez – I’m liking the chance to get to know more about the mysterious Shadows
- A brewing Wrath/Beth drama – cannot WAIT for more of that!
- Story progression for Xcor – individually, not so much the rest of the Band of Bastards, and this is potentially going to become very interesting!
- A major developing storyline for Assail, and the introduction of Sola
- A little bit of Lesser time – thankfully only a little, because there is nothing more boring that freaking Lessers!
All of this cuts into Qhuay time, but I guess we don’t need as much Qhuinn and Blay time as we have with the other main couples of the books, as their story has been told over the last six books since we got a first inkling of ‘something’ between them in book 5 – Lover Enshrined. We don’t need all of the character intro, and watching them fall for each other, because it’s been going on for so long!
Man, one of these days, he was going to be strong enough to walk away. He really was, honest.
Oh, FUCK.
The sexual tension and mad love is still burning strong between Qhuinn and Blay, but the angst level is high with multiple misunderstandings, and their total inability to communicate for the majority of the book leaving me frustrated beyond belief! The two of them managed to get out some of their frustration when they finally cave in to their mad lust, and oh holy hell! Hot, rough, desperate, and did I mention hot?! But things are kept purely physical, with both of them making the most out of their steamy time, but keeping their true feelings to themselves.
“Let me kiss you.” Qhuinn groaned as he leaned in. “I know I don’t deserve it, but please … it’s what you can do for me. Let me feel you….”
Qhuinn’s mouth brushed his own. Came back for more. Lingered.
“I’ll beg for it.” More with the caress of those devastating lips. “If that’s what it takes. I don’t give a fuck, I’ll beg…”
As frustrating as it was though, there was a lot that they both had to work through, and you could see it all happening… painfully slowly! But it did lead up to an epic resolution, and even though it was at the very last minute, it was absolutely beautiful, and brought tears to my eyes
“It’s okay – I’ve got you.”
Qhuinn turned his face into one of the male’s palms. “You always have. You’ve always had me…and my heart. My soul. Everything. “
I felt like this was more Qhuinn’s book than Blay’s, as he has so much more story time, and his journey throughout the book is absolutely sensational! From the kid who was cast out by his family with nothing and nobody to call his own, he really comes into his own, finding acceptance, and becoming comfortable with who he is, and at each of his big moments, I was so proud of him! His big, badass hero move was EPIC, and his moment with the Brothers had my heart pounding. Claiming his place with Blay just finished it off beautifully.
“I’m proud of you, and I love you,” Blay said yet again, that old, familiar voice cutting through all of those years of rejection and judgment, giving him not just a rope of acceptance to hang onto, but a flesh-and-blood hand to lead him out of the darkness of his past…
All of the elements that I love about this series are all there – the sex, the romance, and the action, Ward’s ‘street-talk’ ( I understand people being annoyed by this, but it’s her style, she owns it, and it adds so much to the mood of the books), her awesome pnr world, and of course, the badass nature of the Brothers, their love for their Shellans, and their absolute commitment to each other, even with all of the teasing and bantering that goes on. Qhuinn and Blay’s story fits in beautifully with all of that, and I look forward to seeing more of them as the series continues on.
“I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.”
I loved it – 4.5 stars.
Check out our Black Dagger Brotherhood page for more info on the series.