Those of you who have read both the Lara Adrian’s “Midnight Breed” and JR Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” (not Black Brother Daggerhood) I’m sure have noticed the suspicious similarities between the two series. For those of you who still are at the beginning of the journey and the thrill of reading above series is still ahead of you, I’ll do my best to avoid any spoilers which might hinder the pleasure of the unknown.
The most transparent similarities found in the writings of both authors are:
- The Vampires are a race which lives alongside the human population, who remains blissfully unaware of their existence. In BDB the Vampires are created by a deity and share no common DNA with humans, whereas in MB the vampires originated from the alien race who started breeding with selected human females (called the Breedmates) hence combining the alien DNA with human in the same time keeping the characteristics of their forefathers, e.g. UV sensitivity, blood lust, longevity, enhanced strength and senses.
- The main characters belong to an Order/Brotherhood of seasoned warriors fighting with Rogues (vampires who have succumbed to an ever-present Bloodlust, hence becoming mindless killing machines) or Lessers (the undead humans serving another deity – Omega and aiming to exterminate the Vampire race). The mission is the protection of the Vampire society (called in Adrian’s series – the Breed) and humans who accidentally got stuck in the cross-fire.
- In the first book the leaders find their mates and in consecutive instalments each of the warriors follows the lead, hence each book is devoted to one warrior.
The only problem I had with such a plot progression was the fact that those glorious, virtually immortal warrior have been around for centuries, living alone, unable to find “the one”. And then in a span of a couple of years suddenly all of them find their one and true mate? Seriously? It’s a tat unbelievable.
But putting that aside, the question is whether it is possible to enjoy both series even though the similarities are undeniable. I would say, yes, if you acknowledge that the development of plot throughout the books would be rather predictable, at least to the extent of finding the one, true love. But then I suppose we don’t really read those books for their contribution to the literature or aspirations to win the Booker Prize Award, which I believe is what a lot of people fail to realise.
The other aspect which intrigued me was when each series was first published. Especially that I was a bit of a JR Ward devotee ever since I was first introduced to the whole genre of paranormal romance by the “Dark Lover” (helluva start). And as it turned out Lara Adrian published her book “Kiss of Midnight” (Book 1 in “Midnight Breed”) two years AFTER the “Dark Lover” by JR Ward (2009 vs 2007). And that started me to wonder: is it important, for us the readers, to know who got there first? Who was inspired by whom? Or is it just about the pleasure of reading and being artfully transferred into a blissful world of undying love, boundless passion and gorgeous men.
Nudge Wink Wink 
Hi! Just had a 2 week marathon reading of both series. I started with BDB, and have to say the character portrayal of the male warriors in that is more developed than in the ‘Breed’ books.
However:
Worldbuilding in the Midnight Breed books is more creative, wider, and the vamps being a hybrid specieis descended from aliens and humans is a pretty nifty idea.
Vampire society was more interesting and complex in Adrian’s series.
And the villains- first the leader of the warriors’ brother, then a powerful vamp who’d secreted away the last of the aliens? Bold thinking.
And the Armmageddon scenario in book 10 – Rogues out wreaking havoc, artificially created army of super vamps assassinating key political figures in human society? Epic! Apocalyptic.
Added to which a) I couldnt stand the Scribe Virgin- she was pretty pointless.
b) the Omega and the ‘lessers’ pathetic villains. The only scary one was Lash
c) Shellan in BDB did little or nothing after the novel they featured in. Xhex and Payne were fighters and Jane a doctor…and thats it. Whereas, the Breedmates in Adrian’s series had abilities, were pursuing the fight in their own way, and Renata was awesome, Elise went all warrior/vigilante on her own with NO training, and two more showed kickass tendencies.
So, from a Scifi and story development perspective, Midnight Breed was better. From the character portrayal of the male warrior vampires, Black Dagger Brotherhood is better. Wrath was awesome. Zsadist and Vischous’s stories were… angst filled. The names in BDB were terrible, as was the ‘language’ Ward made up (just stick in h all over the place!) the rap music obsession and the position of females generally in the society. (The Chosen?)
Gosh, this went on for longer than I planned 🙂
Hi Yinka, thanks for your comment. Lots of good stuff. I think it’s time for one of my own marathons as well. I;m thinking Lara Adrian, J. Frank and perhaps Kresley Cole 🙂
I just discovered both series last month. I started with Black Dagger Brotherhood and I have to say, hated them! I’m tenacious and read 4 or 5 books in that series, Z’s book was my last. I don’t plan to read anymore even though I have all the books in that series (recommended by my cousin who went ahead and loaned me all the books in both series). I almost did not read Midnight Breed series because I read they were similar. after thinking about it for a week, I have a 2 week vacation that started last week. I decided to give Midnight Breed a try and I love them. I’ve already read 4 books in 6 days.
Midnight Breed is what water down coffee taste like next to the real stuff, BDB.
I forced myself through three of her books, before going back and rereading the BDB series. The women in her series have little value to the male, they are not as cherish. The males are not likable and seems to be failing imitations of BD brothers, e.i Tegan = Zsadist; the only story I wanted to read but couldn’t finish in Midnight Breed. The author had a female bumped into Tegan just like with Zsadist.
I don’t find the males likable just a bit of a-holes with no quality that will make me say, “I forgive you”. They are disrespectful to the women, don’t want them, only to make a 180 at the end. Plus, the main females I’ve met so far are all petite, golden haired waifs. Really? Where is the variety?
Her writing style is not interesting and I truly dislike how her books poorly reflect the BDB. The author in Midnight Breeed tells me of things but, I don’t see them. Whereas, the BDB, it is shown beautiful emotions!
Lots of people recommended her books to me because I was running out of reading material but, no, Lara Adrian and J.R Ward should not be compared. I am saying this, although, the last three books in the BDB were not up to par.
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