The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a series of fantasy romance books written by J. R. Ward. The series follows a group of vampire warriors called the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" who live together and protect their people from humans who have lost their souls, known as lessers. The first book in the series was published in 2005.

Ward’s Fallen Angels series takes place in the same world as the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Some characters appear in both series, but the stories are mostly different. The Fallen Angels series happens earlier in the timeline.

A TV version of these books was chosen by Passionflix for production. The first season of this adaptation was released in 2025.

Main series

Important books related to the Black Dagger Brotherhood:

• The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide (October 2008). ISBN 978-0-451-22500-9.
• The Black Dagger Brotherhood: 20th Anniversary Insider's Guide (2025).
• Black Dagger Brotherhood box set: Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Unbound, Lover Revealed, Lover Enshrined (2009).

Spin-off series

A spin-off series that shows the trainees. It happens at the same time as the main series.

A spin-off series that follows the prisoners in the Glymera's secret prison camp. It happens at the same time as the main series.

A spin-off series that follows the wolves in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world. It happens at the same time as the main series.

A series that takes place in the same universe as the main series, but in an earlier time.

Suggested reading order

Reading order recommended by J.R. Ward.

• Darius (BDB Book #0.5)
• Dark Lover (BDB Book #1)
• Lover Eternal (BDB Book #2)
• Lover Awakened (BDB Book #3)
• Lover Revealed (BDB Book #4)
• Lover Unbound (BDB Book #5)
• Lover Enshrined (BDB Book #6)
• Father Mine (DBD Book #6.5)
• Lover Avenged (BDB Book #7)
• Lover Mine (BDB Book #8)
• Lover Unleashed (BDB Book #9)
• Lover Reborn (BDB Book #10)
• Lover At Last (BDB Book #11)
• The King (BDB Book #12)
• The Shadows (BDB Book #13)
• The Beast (BDB Book #14)
• Blood Kiss (Legacy Book #1)
• Blood Vow (Legacy Book #2)
• The Chosen (BDB Book #15)
• Dearest Ivie (BDB Book #15.5)
• Blood Fury (Legacy Book #3)
• The Thief (BDB Book #16)
• Prisoner of Night (Novella #1)
• The Savior (BDB Book #17)
• Blood Truth (Legacy Book #4)
• Where Winter Finds You (Novella #2)
• The Sinner (BDB Book #18)
• The Jackal (Prison Camp Book #1)
• A Warm Heart in Winter (Novella #3)
• Lover Unveiled (BDB Book #19)
• Claimed (Wolven Book #1)
• The Wolf (Prison Camp Book #2)
• Lover Arisen (BDB Book #20)
• The Viper (Prison Camp Book #3)
• Forever (Wolven Book #2)
• Lassiter (BDB Book #21)
• Mine (Wolven Book #3)
• The Beloved (BDB Book #22)
• A Bloom in Winter (Novella #4)
• Lover Forbidden (BDB Book #23)

Note: Prisoner of Night is a standalone novella in the same world, but it is not part of the Brotherhood series. Where Winter Finds You and A Warm Heart in Winter are novellas that include characters from the Brotherhood.