Psy-Changeling
paranormal romance
Series · paranormal romance
Black Dagger Brotherhood
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward has 31 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Darius (2022). The next book, Lover Enthroned, is due 29 September 2026.
- Books
- 24 novels + 7 novellas
- First published
- 2005
- Status
- ongoing
- Last checked
Start here: Darius (2022) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Darius
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Darius - Book 2:
Dark Lover
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dark Lover - Book 3:
Lover Eternal
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Eternal - Book 4:
Lover Awakened
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Awakened - Book 5:
Lover Revealed
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Revealed - Book 6:
Lover Unbound
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Unbound - Book 7:
Lover Enshrined
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Enshrined - Book 8:
Father Mine
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Father Mine - Book 9:
Lover Avenged
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Avenged - Book 10:
Lover Mine
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Mine - Book 11:
Lover Unleashed
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Unleashed - Book 12:
Lover Reborn
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Reborn - Book 13:
Lover at Last
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover at Last - Book 14:
The King
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The King - Book 15:
The Shadows
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Shadows - Book 16:
The Beast
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Beast - Book 17:
The Chosen
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Chosen - Book 18:
Dearest Ivie
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dearest Ivie - Book 19:
The Thief
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Thief - Book 20:
The Savior
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Savior - Book 21:
Prisoner of Night
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Prisoner of Night - Book 22:
The Sinner
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Sinner - Book 23:
Where Winter Finds You
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Where Winter Finds You - Book 24:
A Warm Heart in Winter
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Warm Heart in Winter - Book 25:
Lover Unveiled
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Unveiled - Book 26:
Lover Arisen
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Arisen - Book 27:
Lassiter
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lassiter - Book 28:
The Beloved
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Beloved - Book 29:
A Bloom in Winter
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Bloom in Winter - Book 30:
Lover Forbidden
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Forbidden - Book 31:
Lover Enthroned
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lover Enthroned
About the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
In Caldwell, New York, a secret brotherhood of massive, tattooed vampire warriors wages a shadow war against the Lessening Society, a cult of soulless slayers bent on wiping out the vampire race. Each book pairs one Brother (or an ally drawn into their world) with his fated mate, unfolding a slow-burn, often filthy-hot romance against a backdrop of gothic violence, blood bonds, and vampire aristocracy. J. R. Ward built an entire mythology around this world: a formal vampire caste system, a private glyph-based language, and a found-family cast of warriors -- Wrath, Rhage, Zsadist, Butch, Vishous, Phury, and more -- whose interlocking loyalties and rivalries carry across the whole series even as the romantic pairing changes book to book.
The appeal is the combination of hyper-alpha, often broken heroes (Zsadist's arc from tortured slave to devoted mate is a fan favorite) with a soap-opera-scale ensemble that keeps expanding: new Brothers, sons and daughters of the first generation, rivals-turned-allies, and a rotating cast of villains. Readers who like their paranormal romance dark, violent, and unapologetically melodramatic -- with a genuine long-form world to get lost in -- are the audience. The series has run continuously since 2005, spun off three companion series (Black Dagger Legacy, Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, and Lair of the Wolven) set in the same world, and remains one of the best-selling paranormal romance franchises in print.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series?
The main series has 24 numbered novels (through Lover Enthroned, September 2026), plus the prequel novella Darius and six shorter holiday novellas (Father Mine, Dearest Ivie, Prisoner of Night, Where Winter Finds You, A Warm Heart in Winter, A Bloom in Winter).
What order should I read Black Dagger Brotherhood in?
Publication order, starting with Dark Lover. The series is continuous and later books assume you know the earlier cast, so reading in release order is strongly recommended over any chronological reshuffle.
Do I need to read Darius before Dark Lover?
No. Darius is a prequel about an original Brother but was written and released years into the series -- it's best enjoyed after you already know the Brotherhood, not as a starting point.
Is Black Dagger Brotherhood finished?
No, it's ongoing. Lover Forbidden (book 23) released in September 2025, and Lover Enthroned (book 24) is scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Are the Black Dagger Legacy, Prison Camp, and Lair of the Wolven books part of this series?
They're spin-off series set in the same Caldwell vampire world, following different (often younger) characters. They aren't required to follow the main Black Dagger Brotherhood numbered series and aren't included in this list.
If you like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
Reading order last verified .