I'm a big fan of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series and when I found out about this spin-off, I was pretty excited. Her spin-offs usually bring in some other aspect of the BDB-world and freshen everything up, and this start to this new spin-off series was no exception.

Getting was just as easy as getting into her other books. As a reader, you don't have to wait very long until the plot starts and J.R. Ward doesn't waste your time with unnecessary exposition. I was pretty surprised, though, that the Brotherhood wasn't that present. With her other spin-off, the Brotherhood is very much present, but this book focuses mostly on the prison camp. Rhage and the Brotherhood are just a minor part of the story. I'm not complaining about this, it was just a little surprising because I'm used to something different. One interesting aspect concerning Rhage, though, is that we find out a little more about his past and it was interesting to get an insight into how his life was before the Brotherhood moved together into the mansion Darius had built. It was truly interesting, and I wish we had gotten a little more of that.

From the very beginning, the book was very engaging and I could just let myself fall into it, and it felt good to be back in this world. I liked Nyx from the very beginning, and I was also quickly intrigued by The Jackal. My only complaint about this book is that I didn't truly feel the chemistry between Nyx and The Jackal in the beginning. As usual, the relationship developed very quickly, but in their case, I didn't feel the chemistry until the second half of the book which is unusual for me with J.R. Ward's books.

Overall, I would say that the second half of the book was stronger than the first. During the first half, the story was a little dragging, and it wasn't as exciting as in the second half. During the second half, though, I could not put the book down. I felt so engaged and I also didn't see the plot twists coming. I had my theories about who The Commander is, but I was completely wrong. J.R. Ward truly managed to surprise me.

The Ending is what completely sold me. I legitimately had tears in my eyes and I stayed up all night to finish the book because I had to know how it's ending. And the ending truly doesn't disappoint. It's emotional and such a fitting ending in which J.R. Ward also had some surprises for the reader. I truly cannot wait for the second book in the series!

Been waiting for this book since we were given a glimpse that Rhage had a half brother. Good story, nice flashbacks to the old days and lovely to see Darius in the flashbacks. Lots of action as usual and I’m looking forward to seeing the Jackal and his mate in future stories.

OMFG!! She has done it again!
I love this author anyway, but this book blow me away!. This took me back to all the very first book feels, If you love the BDB (Blackdagger Brotherhood), you might get what im talking about. I have been reading these books for years. Since the very beginning and i never ever get bored of them, I have to say for me personally. This spin off was better in some ways then the legacy books 🤭🤭. I know sgow horror, because they are awesome aswell!. This spin off is the prison series of the bdb world. Love the writing, love the story, love the characters(omfg the characters 🥰🥰) and the chemistry 😍😍. I cant really say alot without spoling it but this story follows Nyx and The Jackal there meeting, to the HEA! All I can say is I loved everything about it!. I cant wait for the next prison series.
J.r ward you are awesome!.

The Jackal is the first book in a spin off series from JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood and the hero of the title is a previously unmentioned half-brother to Rhage of BDB fame. The Jackal is a prisoner, sentenced centuries ago for a crime of which he was innocent & who is being held in a long forgotten underground prison that only holds the worst of the worst and from which there is no escape.

The first thing that caught my attention with this book was the cover. I mean who doesn’t love a bad boy and those blue eyes scream BAD!!! The plot itself is action packed from the beginning. It’s a bit gory in places and I’ll admit to cringing a few times as I read a few parts but after all it is set in a prison for monsters so what else can you expect. At this point I should be saying I loved this book but for some reason I didn’t. I feel that I had to force myself to keep reading it & I don’t know why. I did have a slight niggle with, as far as I can remember, there has been no mention of a half brother for Rhage in any previous BDB book not even as a rumour and then the last few chapters read a bit like a dated Mills & Boon book. Not a book I’ll be in a hurry to re-read.

I'm only knocking a star off because I hate when w get random new characters popping up in a series that we'd never known about before or even had hinted at. Rhage's half brother, the eponymous Jackal, is one such character.

However, the atmospheric location and all-around creepiness of the glymera’s prison was strong. Nyx has a trail to follow, hopefully leading her to either her sister or someone who knows where she is. Pity, she stumbled into Jackal just as he's roaming the prison laying his own plans for escape.

The Jackal cannot seem to stop helping Nyx, even when it's against his own best interest. They keep fighting the attraction between them, and it's not exactly best time or place for romance or a one-and-done but neither seem to be able to stop themselves.

When Rhage and the rest of the cavalry find out of his brother's incarceration and the warden's nefarious deeds, nothing and no one will stop them from cracking the prison wide open!

It was very interesting meeting Nix and The Jackal, two new characters that are skillet and smart. I love the little snippets of Rhage past, in which the reader learns that Rhage and The Jackal met previously but without knowing they are related. It was a nice touch in the story.

It was interesting learning about the prison and some of the inmates that are there, and I hope that they show up in future books!

I really like this book and cannot wait for the next one from the author!

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge Black Dagger Brotherhood and Rhage is my absolute favorite character so of course, I was excited about a book about his secret half-brother and the chance to see more of Rhage.
Sadly this book did not meet my personal expectations on either front: Rhage's first chapter was amazing but the two main characters were flat and two dimensional despite their big promise and their interesting pasts and upbringings. The big plot twist was able to be completely predictable and come out of nowhere at the same time which filled me with anger and the character's interactions had nothing unique or rememberable about them, just another insta-love story.
I disliked the sickly sweet way the book ended but I'm also aware that "The Legacy" series is in a completely different genre than the main BDB series and it has a softer, lighter tone. If you like books that focus on the romantic aspect of the relationship, are a short and quick read, and have a guaranteed HEA, then this might be your cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for this DRC.