A Bloom in Winter

Black Dagger Brotherhood #22.5

by J.R. Ward

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward brings the heat in the depths of winter with another sizzling Black Dagger Brotherhood holiday book!

For his entire life, and especially during his century in the prison camp, Apex never believed the bonded-male vampire myths. But when he crossed paths with a sexy wolven, the assassin was done being a lone wolf himself. Tragically, fate had other plans for them, and in the decades since, the world has held little interest—and even less warmth—for him.

He has never forgotten the male, however...

Even after all this time, Callum remains haunted by the horrible abduction that destroyed him down to his marrow those many years ago. Living as a loner, drifting from place to place, the wolven has finally returned to upstate New York—and he is not expecting to see the vampire who has always been on his mind.

As a plot to overthrow the King threatens the Brothers down in Caldwell, Apex and Callum find themselves face to face—and caught up in a deadly, treasonous plot. Can two lonely, lost souls find a way back to each other...or will destiny once again condemn their hearts to cold isolation?

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy

448 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

J.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.

Reviews

[Vio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to Apex and Callum's story. Instead I got a quick rushed depiction of what their story could have been with a thousand other unnecessary characters taking up 70% of the book. I wanted to love this and it just didn't meet my expectations. I still love Callum and Apex as characters, but I was hoping for a more fleshed out story like Qhuinn and Blay's. Sadly this was not the case.

Edit:
Rant ahead be warned:

My biggest problem is that this should not have been promoted as Calum and Apex's story. It should have been first an foremost the "ending of the Prison Camp series" "Mayhems love story" and at the end a smaller dose of "tying of loose ends for Callum and Apex's story."

I fell in love with both men in the previous book, so sorry for being cranky, but I was hoping for a lot more of what was working so damn well in the previous book!

Spoilers ahead:
Also a big miss for me was the fact that the ex boyfriend’s suicide from the previous book and Apex's ghost visions were totally ignored. Chekhov's gun was nonexistent at this point...
And the 30 year time skip? Like why?

It feels like JR Ward suddenly jumped ship from the first tragic backstory she had planned and went with a completely new storyline without ever fixing the plotholes it created in its wake.

The previous book was a premise of something fresh in the BDB world, but the rushed execution of their story made me outright mad.

And don't get me started on the sex scene....
I get it - a lot of trauma and angst, but if you intend to write a HEA after such a scene, don't just infodrop it on us. We get one very toxic sex scene and that's it?!

So, as you may tell I feel passionate about this because I was really looking forward to this book.

I don't think it does the characters justice at all, but if you weren't here for Apex and Callum I think you may enjoy it.

It was not for me and I think I need a break from this series.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I want to start off by saying that the blurb about this book isn’t really what I read. Yes, the story is about Callum and Apex who we met in the Prison Camp series. I was super glad to get their story! But the thing about the training center and all that isn’t really accurate. I did get an ARC of this book, so part of me wondered if there was more to come when printed but at the same time, the story read as a full book and didn’t seem to be missing anything. So maybe that blurb will change? Who knows. Basically I wanted to warn everyone not to expect much with the training center.

So as I said this is a story about Apex and Callum coming back to one another. It lines up with the jumped ahead timeline and we see that these two have been apart for a while. After everything that has happened with them, healing and just getting themselves in spaces is just complicated. But their paths cross once more when Apex and Mayhem are hired to set up a security system for the person Callum is currently working for in keeping the estate in check. But of course it is more complicated than that. We get a side story with Mayhem and a female vampire who runs to that estate to get away from a forced mating that her father wants her to go through with. In addition to some Tohr pov when there is a murder that needs to be solved and a possible threat against the king. And of course, everything connects in some way. As usual, loved the BDB world. Love getting a new story especially with this wolven and vampire. Been waiting for them for a while. And of course, love getting to see how this world is developing and the new threats on the horizon. Looks like we got a lot of things coming! You definitely don’t want to miss this latest addition to the series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.R. Ward really surprised me with this book. I had no idea that I would love this book so much. I guess it’s because it’s a side-story set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, so I was expecting it to be short read. However, I found myself immersed in this world from page one.

Interestingly, it is a holiday-themed story, which I think adds more to its charm. I loved the romance between Apex and Callum. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded if this story was part of the main series. Their romance burns slowly but brightly and I could really feel the emotions that the author put into it. It reminded me of why I love Ward’s writing so much.

Now that shifters becoming a bigger part of the vampiric world, I find that there are more possibilities now. The worldbuilding has so much more going on than what we see in this book, so I’m very excited to see how Ward will continue with this series. Needless to say, I devoured this book and can’t wait for my next BDB fix!

[Ohiwoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

how do i say this respectfully ….

5/5 stars for callum and apex’s story ✌️😔

1/5 star for whatever the fuck the rest of this mess was 🥴🫣

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4.25 stars. Narration 5 stars
I don’t really read the blurbs for this series anymore and get them not knowing anything. This one surprised me a bit. This is the second m/m romances that the author has released although if it’s featured in the prison ones I didn’t read those. I just hate prison anything. The author also gave us a f/m story as well. It’s not a long book and that’s saying a lot of this authors work as it’s usually really long. Saying this to reiterate that there’s two romances plus an evil plot against Wraith as well. So there’s a lot going on. The two males are Apex, a vampire and Callum, a wolf shifter. They first met in prison but have been apart for over 30 years. Both went through horrible times in prison with Callum being tortured to close to breaking. Their romance was very passionate and at the same time sweet. The other couple are both vampires. All of them end up at a sprawling complex in the wake of a bad snowstorm. They are working on wiring the place for cameras. The female is the owners estranged daughter. This takes place over a couple of days, maybe three? Not sure. As I said, a lot happens. Leaving it there.

I enjoyed the listen but I think I would like it to been longer. Both romances happen quickly and they seemed a bit rushed, especially the f/m couple. Marcy? And a name I’m not sure of since I was listening. The writing is typical of Ward’s writing, with all the product placement and references to real life things. I wouldn’t have it any other way now. Narration was stellar as usual.

[❤️ Dorsey aka Wrath Lover Reviews ❤️]

Review to come…..

* Looks like a crossover book….Prison Camp characters Callum & Apex joining the BDB.

Book Blurb from Audible:

Nothing warms a cold heart like true love, and in this newest Black Dagger Brotherhood winter book, a fighter who has never been a savior finds himself falling in love—and trying to rescue—a male who’s lost all hope.

With the BDB training center reopening, and the Brothers looking to add more soldiers in the war against the Lessening Society, fan favorite Callum decides to find his purpose in fighting. Apex knows what suffering the male has survived, and he joins the program just to make sure Callum doesn’t get himself killed. As the two hit the streets, and the danger gets real, Callum must decide whether he can open himself up to love or if he will give in to his inner darkness and spiral down into an abyss of hatred and death...forever.

*Release Date: 11/05/2024

[herdys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start by saying that this should've been the last book on the prison camp and not a novella. We didn't get any background on Mayhem, and Callum and Apex deserved better. I also felt lost since I refused to read her wolven books and didn't know Xhex had a brother. I think these winter stories are better for side stories of the lead characters, like we had with Quinn before etc. I was quite invested in Callum and Apex in the last book and they weren't given a chance for a whole book and it all seemed rushed.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realized I need to read some of the spin off BDB books! I haven’t read the prison books yet! I need to get on those!

Even with not having read about Apex and Callum previously, I loved this audio book! I was able to understand the basics of their past, how they knew each other, and how they ended up apart! It was sad in many places and had funny moments too! It was good to see Tohr and V & of course Wrath!!!

As typical for me, I fell hard for a secondary character!! Mayhem! I loved his attitude, & how he was with Mahrci!!!

I will definitely have to read the prison books to get more background on these characters! The narration in this book was GREAT!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Ward is writing these stories as exposition with little to no character development. Just when the story teases my interest, we’re sent off to other characters on a different plot course. It’s frustrating and disappointing to say the least when compared to the earlier books that focused on the story of two main characters. BDB has finally jumped the shark for me.

[Gary Branson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the story that is blurbed…. Also, bad writing, sloppy plotting. Two stars may be way too generous…

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

A Bloom in Winter (Black Dagger Brotherhood #22.5)
By J.R. Ward

This installment featured two romances. Apex and Callum who met 30 years ago when the BDB took down the prison featured in the Prison Camp series spinoff. Apex was a vampire prisoner and Callum is a Wolven. They had a moment and then the horrible things done to Callum happened and they have been adrift for 30 years. Callum trying to heal and Apex morning the last of What If with Callum. They get a HEA but in Ward fashion they did get enough page time because like I said there are two romances.

The second couple is Mayhem another former vampire prisoner and Mahrci. Their romance was sweet. It was fun to see the crazy Mayhem settle down a bit while he was with her.

This was a bridge book of course. A way to bring closure three characters and give us a taste of things to come in the main storyline of the series.

MY SOURCE: purchased

[Jamies · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many sad and happy tears for Callum and Apex. Seeing this little snippet of what's happening in the world around Wrath's return is great. Obviously when the next book comes it'll be focused on the love story between the main couple but the glimpses of what future books could bring for other characters is fun to see.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with other reviews that this was mismarketed. That doesn't mean it's not good, but it's not really Apex and Callum's story alone. It is a finale of the Prison Camp series and ties up Apex, Callum, and Mayhem's stories as well as introducing a new plot point for the series as a whole. There was a lot at play in this one and it read really quick. The emotions and angst ran high in this one and I enjoyed it overall. I liked the new characters and the new drama and loved the wrap up for these characters.

[Kimbot the Destroyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the wolves or prison stories. It didn't matter much and it does take place after the time jump so there is relevance to the BDB worldbuilding. Lots of glymera shenanigans and manchild feelings!
Apex and Callum have me intrigued enough to maybe try the spinoffs.

[Giselle Borjas Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siempre bueno tener POV de Tohr!

[ML Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love a happy ending although I’m not gonna lie…I predicted a different ending for Mayhem. Oh and Hemmy? Ick to the nth degree.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one was more surprised than me to realize that I was going to give this book less than 4 stars. As a pretty big fan of this series (and all of the spin offs) I have been extremely excited every time I see a new book come out. Unfortunately though, the last several books have been hit or miss, and that was something that NEVER used to happen in the past. Is it time to end the series? Has it run its course?

As much as I sometimes think this, I will then remember that even though the current book may not be the best of the bunch, it is still wonderful to jump back into this wonderful world that Ms. Ward has created over the last - what is it? - 2 decades? The world building has already been established, the characters have already been developed, fleshed out and best of all, they continue to grow. That is my FAVORITE part of coming back to this world. ESPECIALLY when we get to see so many of the old characters that we have come to know and love :)

This book is a novella, so part of the problem was that there were too many things (storylines) going on at the same time. TBH, it would have been hard for all of these storylines to each have their own arc, yet when you realize that there were three arcs going on, it did not really have the time and space to flesh each one out in the way that it should have been.

I'm not going to even discuss the fact that this book (according to the blurb) was going to be Apex and Callum's story and honestly, it really wasn't. I don't even know what it was, but it definitely did NOT go in the direction that I thought it was going to.

Add to that, we get some brand new characters, and NEW relationships between another couple...OH, and there are people trying to overthrow the Brotherhood. Don't you think that that last story arc might have deserved a LITTLE more room to really go into? Well, I did and it just doesn't happen. It is just superficially glossed over and that more than anything bothered me the most.

So, let's wait to see what's next. Hopefully, I am not going to have to step away from this series anytime in the near future. Heck, after decades...I'm KINDA invested.....ya think?

[Jeana Cheque · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this one. I hate how she spent so much time on the characters at the flower shop in the beginning. They had nothing to do with the story. She could've left the ending pretty much the same without going on so long with the humans. Callum's storyline is basically Z's recycled. I don't think Apex saw any dead people in this one. I honestly listened at a higher speed just to get through it and didn't pay too close attention since it wasn't holding my interest. I thought it was weird that his ability wasn't brought up in his story. Mayhem is just Lassiter 2.0. I mean, white blond and black hair. He's so crazy that he just hangs out at the prison for 50 years even though he's not an inmate. I loved a Warm Heart in Winter. I was hoping this would be as good and really hit those Christmasy, togetherness vibes. It didn't.

[He11zbelles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 40 books, five series, and sixteen years later, it’s time for me to end my relationship with J.R. Ward. It’s not her writing style that’s the problem; it’s me. My reading preferences have changed, and I find her writing to be both boring and frustrating. I’m glad I’m concluding my last book with this one, as it was enjoyable to revisit the recurring characters and experience a sense of family reunion.

While I had anticipated this book to focus more on Apex and Callum, their story was overshadowed by Mayhem’s relationship and the political intrigue within the BDB. Unfortunately, Apex and Callum’s story remained underdeveloped, which is disappointing. This is one of the reasons why I’ve decided to end this series with J.R. Ward and move on. Her writing simply doesn’t satisfy me anymore. It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s time for me to explore new literary horizons.

[Nicole Thorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know what happened to BDB. Honestly it’s felt like her heart hasn’t been in writing these for a while. It’s almost all insta love now, and when it’s not, where there used to be beautiful angst and emotion, is just dullness. And I don’t understand how these used to have several full sex scenes in each book, and now we get one typically, and it’s short and phoned in. Like, is this not a romance series? As soon as these books started getting to about two thirds the length, the quality dropped. What happened to romances that spanned several books? We finally get a couple with history and it falls flat. The time jump didn’t help. Her efforts for a clean new start are wasted when she’s not giving these books the meat and attention to detail they deserve.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give this book such a low rating. This is one of my favorite series ever. However, the books are starting to lose their appeal. The stories just don't hold my attention like they used to. I really miss the old BDB...

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Still disliking the 30 year time jump. This just had a few chapters of real story and the rest was reliving traumas.

[Kassidy Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF at 15% through. I honestly don’t care about the prison camp people or their stories at this point. I wish this book didn’t count as one of the BDB main books and put it as a side book.

[JazzRizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK .. first off .. the blurb has nothing to do with what the book is about. I was absolutely confused .. and kept waiting to get to the training center part of the story. Nope .. Nada .. WTH?

However .. I really did enjoy the book for what it was .. but Apex & Callum's story wasn't it. Sure, they're part of it, but in the overall scheme of things .. it doesn't feel like the heart of the story. Not by a long shot. Mayhem & Mahrci's story actually had far more substance to me. There's also the rumblings of a new threat from the rich & powerful flexing for more control happening. Which feels like a total reset to where things were at the start of Dark Lover.

I'm also struggling with this 33+ year time jump. I find it pretty jarring to read this futuristic setting where Google & Samsung are still super prominent (so nobody came up with a new & better cell phone ... and cell phones are still a thing, no new technology??) ... I'm just not vibing with this future jump that still seems set in the current time. I get the need for the jump, but it feels more like aging soap opera kids .. ya know.

Even though I have a lot of frustration with this book (and where the series headed) ... it was a solid story that kept my attention.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bloom in Winter
Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 22.5

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: P Public Library
Dates Read: 2/1/25 - 2/3/25
Stars:

The Characters:

Callum:
Apex:
Mayhem, Mariana (or something like that) Tor, Quinn, other citizens and the new glymera

The Story:

Me: I’m craving time with familiar characters
Library: Here’s your hold.
Me: This will be perfect.
Book: Here are a bunch of characters you don’t actually know.

I also still find the 30-year time jump a bit trippy. Like Quinn has adult kids! What?!?! They don’t live in the Mansion anymore. Huh? I have not read the last Prison Camp book yet and I think that might have an effect on my understanding of what is going on with Callum and Apex (or Mayhem and his Shellen). The changes within the Glymera are crazy too. Overall, this was an enjoyable yet confusing read.

[Debbie Shawver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I’m so glad J.R. Ward brought back Apex and Callum from the Prison series. Their story was unfinished through the series. And J.R. Ward gave us more of them with A Bloom in Winter.

And Mayhem and Mahrci were perfect together. Forget Remis.

And oh boy do I hate the glymerra. I hated them from the beginning. They are pricks. Think they are better than everyone. I was kinda glad the lesser stop them for awhile. Whestmoral and Remis are pussy. Especially Remis. And oh boy he got what he deserved.

[Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mix of lightheartedness and seriousness. I liked both couples although I wish we had spent more time building the bond between Callum and Apex. Besides that, I enjoyed the setting and the mystery, and how it all wrapped up quite neatly.

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think we all know what J.Rs.super powers are!!!
I absolutely loved this book.
I mean we got two different HEAs. I was moved by Apex and Callum’s struggles and how badly they needed each other.
Then we got a bonus with Mayhem and Mahrci’s story! I have to admit that Mayhem was my hero.
These characters were so determined to make it through to other side. And they definitely had each other’s backs.
Highly recommend!!!

[Borislava Todorova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarmingly sweet!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5/5