Sunday, June 10, 2007

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward


Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series just gets better and better. Dark Lover was entertaining, a hip addiction, Lover Eternal a bit wilder and Lover Awakened highly emotional, heartrending. Officially hooked on the series and attached to the characters, I had no doubt Lover Revealed would be a good read. I bought it when it released, piled it with my books (small, small stack) and looked forward to reading it. Then kept putting it off, selecting other titles instead. Should have read it the day it arrived. It was better than good. Lover Revealed had everything.

Suspense right from the start. I was edge-of-my-seat desperate to see where Ward would take Butch after his abduction by the Lessers. It was clear from the moment Vishous found him that Ward would journey to a mark off the stereotypical map. Despite trying, I could not predict the outcome. Nor could I turn the pages fast enough to get there. Without spoilers, I can only say that the fate she held for these characters made all kinds of sense. And it was breathtaking. When I finished that scene, my only thought was Wow.

Emotional depth in unexpected places. In the romance, Butch’s feelings for Marissa inspired a few tightening grips on the book. The romance more than held its own. But it was Vishous’ feelings for Butch that sucked the air from my lungs. It is so powerful you ache with it. Regardless of how you view it, romantic or brotherly, it is written brilliantly. Without hesitation or apology. Like I said, you ache with it.

That banter. I actually told a friend that the brothers’ humor and antics in this one felt adlibbed. Not scripted. How’s that for testimony to Ward’s talent for lifting characters from the page? Dennis Leary, who provides a living, breathing presence for his Rescue Me character, adlibs. Characters limited to typeface do not adlib.

A promise of more to come. Vishous. I’ll push down the elderly and young to get my hands on his story come September. And John. This book whispered of his assault more than once and I look forward to the solace and reflection we know he will find in Zsadist.

3 comments:

  1. Wow.
    I didn't believe in the Butch/Marissa love story at all. I think that without Marissa, I would have liked this one a lot more.

    I'm looking forward to V's story, but I gotta say, it's going to take some fine ass writing to make me believe that V has fallen for a human woman. I'm not so sure that she can do it.

    I hope that Ward proves me wrong.

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  2. I think it was Butch's circumstances--the fear of the evil inside him on top of the futile pining for Marissa he's already been living with--that made me WANT his HEA with her. On her own, she didn't power the story much, IMO. But knowing him better helped spark my interest in the romance. Definitely agree though...the stuff with Vishous was way more emotionally charged.

    I have to say, I passed this book over a few times (on my TBR stack) because the idea of Butch's story didn't grab me. I liked his character well enough, but wasn't waiting on pins and needles to have it. When I read it, I thought it was outstanding. I hope she continues to surprise me with each new installment.

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  3. I still haven't read this one, I don't know why I keep putting it off, but this was a great review sweetie.

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Have you read it? What do you think?

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