Now you all know how much we love the Brothers of J.R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series but behind every great man there's a great woman. That saying couldn't be any truer when it comes to the shellans of the BDB Brothers. Well for the most part. A majority of the shellans are strong women who complement their hellrans while others are weak and irritate me. Below I'll share my thoughts of each of the Brother's shellans. I'd also like to go ahead and apologize if I offend fans of some of these women. These are just my thoughts and opinions.
“A good woman inspires a man; a brilliant woman interests him;
a beautiful woman fascinates him; and a sympathetic woman gets him.”
~ Helen Rowland
a beautiful woman fascinates him; and a sympathetic woman gets him.”
~ Helen Rowland
Beth, shellan of Wrath
The HBIC of the Brotherhood compound and the woman who started it all, Queen Beth, the half-human, half-vampire is one tough cookie and the perfect match to help Wrath rule his kingdom. In Dark Lover, Beth not only discovers the truth about vampires but she herself was half-vampire and the daughter of one of the Black Dagger Brotherhood warriors. Beth and Wrath put up a good fight to deny their initial attraction towards each other at the beginning but the magnetic pull between them was just too strong and at the end they ended up making up one powerful couple.
What I really admired about Beth was how easy it was for her to be so protective of Wrath. Fresh from her transition and abducted by the Lessening Society, she briskly over came the trauma of her abduction and was ready to fight and protect her hellran. I mean the way she faced down that pittbull after Wrath got injured and was ready to tackle Butch and Vishous was really admirable. Without Beth by his side, I don't think Wrath would have stepped up to his duties as the King of Vampires. Finally having Beth in his life, Wrath was able to realize the importance of his race to have strong leader while at war with the Lessening society. For a woman to make a stubborn and hot headed male like Wrath change, she's gotta have a lot of hutzpah to pull that off. I ended up loving her even more when she poured all of her love and attention to Wrath after he'd had a total loss of vision.
What I really admired about Beth was how easy it was for her to be so protective of Wrath. Fresh from her transition and abducted by the Lessening Society, she briskly over came the trauma of her abduction and was ready to fight and protect her hellran. I mean the way she faced down that pittbull after Wrath got injured and was ready to tackle Butch and Vishous was really admirable. Without Beth by his side, I don't think Wrath would have stepped up to his duties as the King of Vampires. Finally having Beth in his life, Wrath was able to realize the importance of his race to have strong leader while at war with the Lessening society. For a woman to make a stubborn and hot headed male like Wrath change, she's gotta have a lot of hutzpah to pull that off. I ended up loving her even more when she poured all of her love and attention to Wrath after he'd had a total loss of vision.
Mary, shellan of Rhage
It's fitting that "Virgin Mary" would marry Rhage, the whore of the Brotherhood. To be quite honest, I wasn't too fond of Mary after I initially read Lover Eternal but after reading it a second time and as the series progressed I grew to like Mary more and more. When we first meet Mary, she just seemed so plain Jane and lacked self-confidence. Maybe it was my own imagination of a Brangelina pairing in the BDB world but I just thought Rhage would be paired with someone who go toe-to-toe with him the looks and confidence department.
As the romance progressed with Mary and Rhage it became clearer to me that Rhage needed a woman like Mary. Her calmness and understanding helped him keep his inner beast at bay. Mary also proved how strong she was when she found out about his past indiscretions (ahem…romping with eight women in a week?) and the monster he held within himself. I mean really, how many women could stand their husband turning into some dragon creature after he loses his cool? Mary has also helped so many of the Brothers in the group. She's a great listener and I really ended up loving her after she took her time to sit down with Zsadist to help him sort out of his personal issues and taught the Brother how to read and write. I mean how many of us would have the courage and patience to teach a man like Zsadist. I'd be scared as hell even though he is one of my faves.
As the romance progressed with Mary and Rhage it became clearer to me that Rhage needed a woman like Mary. Her calmness and understanding helped him keep his inner beast at bay. Mary also proved how strong she was when she found out about his past indiscretions (ahem…romping with eight women in a week?) and the monster he held within himself. I mean really, how many women could stand their husband turning into some dragon creature after he loses his cool? Mary has also helped so many of the Brothers in the group. She's a great listener and I really ended up loving her after she took her time to sit down with Zsadist to help him sort out of his personal issues and taught the Brother how to read and write. I mean how many of us would have the courage and patience to teach a man like Zsadist. I'd be scared as hell even though he is one of my faves.
Bella, shellan of Zsadist
In the first two books Zsadist was presented as a downright nasty and scary piece of work that even Wrath was fearful of leaving his shellan alone with him. Although Zsadist wasn't someone who most of us would consider as a romantic interest, the beautiful aristocrat vampire, Bella, was instantly attracted to him. I loved how she sought him out during her second visit to the Brotherhood compound and even corners him in his room. Quite honestly even though Zsadist is my favorite brother I don't think I could muster up that much strength, courage and confidence to go after him.
As a female who had rebelled against the structures of the glymera, Bella is as strong as they come. She put up a good front towards her own family by wanting independence from her mother and brother, Rhev. It's quite fitting that it would take a woman like her to tame the "ruined, but not broken" brother. From the beginning she knew she wanted him and she wasn't having any of Zsadist's run and hide act. Bella was able to make Zsadist face and tackle issues and emotions that he'd been ignoring for centuries. She gave the brother an ultimatum when it came down to her and eventually their daughter in Father Mine when he easily could have just ran and hid from the issue. I think this is why Bella only other woman out of all the shellans who could top Queen Beth in my ranking. Girlfriend deserves a lot of kudos for reeling in and taming the most troubled brother.
As a female who had rebelled against the structures of the glymera, Bella is as strong as they come. She put up a good front towards her own family by wanting independence from her mother and brother, Rhev. It's quite fitting that it would take a woman like her to tame the "ruined, but not broken" brother. From the beginning she knew she wanted him and she wasn't having any of Zsadist's run and hide act. Bella was able to make Zsadist face and tackle issues and emotions that he'd been ignoring for centuries. She gave the brother an ultimatum when it came down to her and eventually their daughter in Father Mine when he easily could have just ran and hid from the issue. I think this is why Bella only other woman out of all the shellans who could top Queen Beth in my ranking. Girlfriend deserves a lot of kudos for reeling in and taming the most troubled brother.
Part II of the Black Dagger Sisterhood,
I'll be discussing Marissa, Jane and Cormia.
I'll be discussing Marissa, Jane and Cormia.
