The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #1)

by J. R. Ward

• ISBN10: 1982133783
• ISBN13: 9781982133788
• Publish Date: 23 February 2021 (first published 18 August 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Books
• Format: Paperback (US Tall Rack)
• Pages: 512
• Language: English

Reviews

[thebookdisciple]

The Jackal is the first in a new spin off set in the BDB world but featuring new characters! The prisoners have been imprisoned for YEARS (sometimes hundreds of years) with no hope of ever being free. No one knows the secret, underground location of the prison, but Nyx is determined to save her sister.

Jackal (Jack) isn't what you expect from a prisoner. There are a lot of people in the prison who have lost their souls. Jack isn't one of them, and it makes the reader want to learn more about him. Nyx is a dynamic character as well. She feels very strongly that her sister is innocent of the crime she was convicted of, but her grandfather says he knows the truth.

The prison camp is a metaphor for the greed of the ruling class. The people imprisoned ofter were sent there because of who they are, not what they did. The guards and "The Command" are vicious and ruthless. Jack takes on a mission of exposing The Command and taking them down for their cruelty.

Fans of Rhage will LOVE his cameos in the story. Ward takes us WAY back in Rhage's story-when Darius was still alive, and long before he met Mary.

Finally, The Jackal gives us a new species in the BDB world: Wolvin! I'm intrigued with this new species and curious as what Ward will do with their "history" and place in the world. She has created the BDB world to be unique amongst other vampire stories, and I'm excited for her take on shifters! Also, while The Jackal is long at 365 pages, its relatively short compared to many of Ward's books!

 

•   POV: 3rd


•   Tears: no


•   Trope: fated mates, vampires


•   Series/Standalone: stand alone 


•   Cliffhanger: not for Nyx and Jack, but there are lots of side characters you will be left pondering!


•   HEA: yes

The Carpathians series by Christine Feehan, The Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh, The Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter...then you will probably like The Jackal!

 

The Jackal

See full review on The Book Disciple

[Caitiebelle]

Oh, how I've waited for this gem! And it did not disappoint! :D
I must admit I was slightly afraid I would not like this book so much as I've loved many other books in the series - but I also think that's normal.
When a Series becomes as big as BDB has become now, there will always be some books that are "better" than others I think.
That aside - I had completely forgotten the release date of this book (don't you just love when that happens?!) and as I pre-ordered it a loooooong time ago - I had a super nice surprise awaiting me when I opened my Kindle! haha

Now over to the book itself. I really loved the Legacy series, I can actually admit that I loved Legacy more than I loved a few of the Warden's last additions to the main BDB, it's just something really awesome with the "normal" society of Vampires. No humans. Just...every day Vampires hehe. The common folk as it were.

This book takes place in just that sort of place. The prison we visit was covered by the Glymera, but as we know - the Glymera was almost wiped out and the Council has been disbanded by Wrath some time ago.
But the prison is so off the grid, it's own society really - that it's not got much info about the "going ons" outside.

This book is quite graphic - we are in a very dangerous place where survival of the fittest is quite evident. And though there is a "governor" in this prison....that is complicated in itself. The prison is run quite well though and everything is very much by clockwork.

Our dear Jackal has been here for over 100 years. Since 1914 - and through flashbacks and memories we are taken back to before he was imprisoned, falsely, and also learning the cause of his imprisonment.

I must say I really love the flashbacks. I always have. And Darius especially is a character I always long to see more of, which we only get (for obvious reasons) via flashbacks.
It is also so great to see how the Brotherhood functioned over a hundred years ago. Quite different than they are now - I can tell you that for certain! :)

Nyx is a char I really loved. She's strong. Capable. Caring. And she seeks justice for her sister who was imprisoned 50 years ago on what she explains are false charges.
I also really liked her grandfather, I must admit I seriously thought he must have some connection in a past life to the Brotherhood.

The books have, as always, really powerful scenes, full of emotions but also very good fighting and intelligence, and this book brought on all the feels for me.

It had love, heartbreak, I cried, I laughed and I loved seeing some of the brothers again. :D

The book also obviously opens up for more books in this Prison Camp series, but it's arch is fulfilled in this book, I was never left feeling like I had to buy a new book or an old book to understand things, which is also another thing I really love about Ward. She always delivers and the books are stand-alone, though you would feel lost in this world of BDB if you didn't start from the beginning.

5 great stars and I can't wait for more.