Review: Lover Avenged by JR Ward

Published: April 2009 by New American Library (hardcover)

Number of Pages: 527

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Stand Alone/Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood 7
1: Dark Lover
2: Lover Eternal
3: Lover Awakened
4: Lover Revealed
5: Lover Unbound
6: Lover Enshrined

Why This Book: It's book crack. Once you start you can't stop.

From the Author Site: Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

Read excerpt here.

Hero: Rehvenge, son of Rempoon, aka the Reverend, is the drug lord of Caldwell, a part of the vampire aristocracy, the gylmera, and a sympath (a sub-species of vampire who feed on and manipulates emotions). Being a sympath makes him unwelcome among the vampires and something he has to keep hidden. If that secret got out he would deported to the sympath colony where he would most likely to be killed for being a half-breed. That's just one secret he has to maintain in order to protect those close to him. In order to keep that most important secret, he pays his blackmailer in both flesh and jewels monthly. Having done this for decades has left him feeling unclean and unworthy. Although he has friends who know and understand as well as sister who loves him, he is lonely. A man simply existing and not living.

Heroine: Ehlena is a nurse at the vampire hospital and is caring for her ailing schizophrenic father. Her family was once a part of the vampire elite but due to some double-crosses and back-stabbing as well as her father's failing health, they have fallen into hard times and a meager existence. Ehlena gives and gives and cares for other while saving nothing for herself until her life is nothing but duty. She's almost too compassionate to be a real person, too sickeningly gentle, kind and giving. But her character is saved by the presence of a temper and prejudice that in keeping with her society.

Review: JR Ward delivers yet another action packed books. But unlike her last two books, this one has a romance that can be understood and appreciated. No suddenly dead heroines turning into ghosts or a completely lackluster romance between two uninteresting characters. The romance could stand on its own, which is an improvement from the last couple of books. Its poignant and a delight to read. But it does not take away from the hard core action we have come to expect from Ms Ward.

The war against the lessers is still raging on and the causalities are mounting. All the deaths and loss of property, not to mention lives (though most of the new gylmera council members don't seem to mind that last part) have undermined Wrath's power base with the elite. And the gylmera see a chance for wresting power away from Wrath by assassinating him. This internal power struggle only adds fuel to the fire.

The Brotherhood is too short on manpower to make any headway in the war which puts Wrath back in the field. Wrath's vision is failing, the lessers have become stronger under Lash's leadership and a drug war is in the making in Caldwell. The relationship between John Matthew and Xhex is morphing into something physically steamy while John's relationship with Tohr is on the decline. Everything seems to be ramping up for some great climax, the final showdown between the lessers and the Brotherhood, the Omega and the Scribe Virgin can almost be glimpsed on the horizon.

What I liked best: George and and Fritz. Where can I find some vacuum-loving doggens?

What I least liked: The use of the word "outtie" by the brothers and Rehv. These are tough men, fighters who instill fear and dread in their enemies. Having them use the word"outtie" diminishes them, makes the sounds like some misbehaving teenagers and is completely out of character and unbelievable.

Also the use of so many acronyms/abbreviations. Sure they are useful but not everyone hangs out with people who constantly use acronyms/abbreviations as a part of every day life. Having to figure what in the heck MMA stands for makes for breaks in the flow of the story being told.

Keeper?: Yes. Although it's a hardcover and throws off all my neat little rows, I'm keeping it because it's autographed.

Recommendation: Read the series in order. There is just too much of the back-story details that are needed to fully enjoy the book.

Grade: B
Series Grade to Date: B

Update

Okay so I have been silent for about a week. Am totally depressed about the whole not working thing (especially when having to pay bills or balance check book)

The job hunting continues. Have I said how much I hate it recently? Not working totally sucks because bills add up and there is no influx of cash. Why can't I win the lottery or something so that money wasn't such a problem? Mind you I don't mind working, but not having to worry about money would be nice. Anyone want to donate to the poor Aymless fund?

On a bright note (well maybe not so bright), I cashed in my change and added it to my Amazon account so I can at least get books without added expense, but this also means that the fatcat bank is now empty *pout*

Got my BDB handbook. Haven't browsed it yet but it will at least take time away from the moping about not working.

And there is always the very large TBR pile which doesn't seem to shrink. Maybe if I actually picked things off it to read it would, but lately I've been interested in reading some old favorites. Lately been going through Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steel series getting ready to read the latest (Wild Road)

And then there are the much wanted books... Nalini Singh's Branded by Fire, Anne Bishop's Shadow Queen and CL Wilson's Queen of Song and Souls (and the excerpt for this one not even available to drool over), to name a few.

Where is my time machine? I really need to get into making one, anyone want to help? I'll even let you use it *g*

Reading is NOT a cure for Insomnia

Sleep who needs sleep. Good thing I am unemployed at the present since I would not be able to function at work. That whole not sleeping thing really seems to interfere with normal life (whatever that is). At least all the extra time is giving me more time to read... not the TBR pile seems to be decreasing, thanks to a number of reviews (not naming names...*mumbles* kristie(j)/katie(babs) ) ... and wondering if books count as carbs or fiber.

So instead of sleep, I read Phury's book, Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward. As much as I was looking forward to this book, I have to say it was a disappointment. The heroine is mediocre and mostly "fluffy", had no real substance . The hero is tortured, annoying and most of the time you want to slap him to set him straight. The romance part of the story just wasn't present, no real chemistry. Almost thought the story would have been better off without the hero and heroine.

The really great parts of the book involve side characters of the book and evolution of the general storyline of the series. It does make one wonder interested in what happens next, keeps the reader's attention (as long as the hero/heroine was not involved... kept trying to skim those parts and had to go back when I missed something about the storyline *sigh*) and the general story itself has great twists and turns.

I wouldn't recommend this as a romance, but as general vampire novel. Unfortunate part of that is without the beginning of the storyline, told in the earlier more romantic novels, the storyline and characterizations need additional explanations that are not given in this novel. I've had more enjoyment re-reading some of my older novels.

Rating: 3 out of 5.