Lover Reborn: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood [Hardcover]

 

 

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*SPOILER FREE*
Wow, I honestly don't know where to begin with this review. To say that this was good is an understatement. To say that it knocked me on my a$$ and left me a drained, emotional wreck, is far closer to the truth. Yup, LOVER REBORN did me in, talk about your gauntlet of emotions, I mean I expected some angst but jeez! I cried (I mean really cried) I laughed, I sighed, I swore, I groaned and I gasped but in the end I also smiled.

As much as I was anticipating this book it was also with a heavy dose of apprehension; was I ready to see Tohrment find love again? Was he ready? Were any of us really ready to let Wellsie go? And most importantly could Ward make me believe in this new love? The answer is a resounding yes, I think in part because it doesn't happen quickly (or easily) Reborn has been broken into 4 sections (1 per season) so that this book takes place over the period of a year. And it was over that year and all the crap that goes down (and oh does the crap ever go down) that Ward made me believe.

Starting where Lover Unleashed left off and with her usual flair Ward throws us into "Spring" and right into the action and pain that is Tohr. Chasing down a group of Lessers, Tohr is now relentless in his pursuit of the enemy, basically only drawing breathe to "ahvenge" his murdered wife and son. Tonight's hunt sees Tohr launching himself off a bridge as John and Qhuinn watch helplessly from below, John issuing a silent scream as Tohr falls. And so it begins. Through 572 pages Ward proceeds to give us everything we want and then some ...

Without going into spoiler territory (which is going to be hard) I can tell you of course that this is Tohr and No'one's story. These two have a long history together and are both equally broken so it makes sense for them to get together. Lassiter is helping to move them along the love train (in his own way) and as it turns out with a sense of urgency. John and Xhex also play key roles in their story, giving us some absolutely filthy-hot love scenes as well as showing us a marriage in transition.

Xcor and his Band Of B@stards are back and gaining strength in Caldwell. They do things here that... can never be forgiven. Sending one Brother on a mission under a decree of death. New and mysterious characters are introduced (Assail) while others are fleshed out (Throe and Zyphor.) We're still all mixed up in the whole hot-mess that is Layla/Qhinn/Blay/Saxton; however that's all about to change :) The Blind King still kicks butt, Ward throws a "needing" (or two) our way and gives us details of a ceremony that absolutely broke my heart. We also bare witness to a battle that gave me heart palpitations for all of its 60 pages and left some Brothers with life threatening injuries.

Somehow through all this Ward also manages to give us time with each and every member of the Brotherhood mansion. We get to see everyone doing their thing, giving us some special moment with each of them and that in itself says something because there are so many characters now. In fact I would have to say that Ward has hit her pinnacle with LOVER REVORN. The balance here is just right; the romance, the action, the surprises and the healing. I honestly never knew where this was going to go and when that happens you're guaranteed a great ride.

And now for the good news... BLAY AND QHUINN HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED AS BOOK #11! That's right the wait is over. It looks like Ward has worked a miracle with her publisher because their story was originally to be published as a novella and now they're getting their very own Hardcover instalment. Way to go boys. See you Spring 2013

I haven't read Lover Reborn Lover Reborn: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhoodyet but I've now got it on my Wish List! For those of us who have read the entire series (and sometimes more than once...lol) there's always an (heart)ache left between novels. We've come to know the Brothers intimately as if they're part of our own family. Funny thing is, whenever I see a black Escalade, I always look who's driving.

I was pretty disappointed with this novel. Like all BlackDagger Brotherhood fans (and I've recruited along the way) I had been so excited for this latest installment. After reading 'Lover Mine'--a great book--it was clear whom the next romantic couple was going to be, but 'Lover Reborn' is lacking just that with it's main pairing: romance! I felt no connection between Tohr and No'One, the sex was cold and dispassionate, and their convoluted reasoning for being together did nothing to help either the plot or their "relationship." Why am I still going to read the next book? 'Lover Reborn' has one redeeming factor in my mind, and that is what it alludes to in future installments for characters like Quinn, Blay, and Layla. In fact, I wish we could see more with the Chosen who have come to live with Phury/Cormia (the only readable part of 'Lover Enshrined') instead of bringing in new females out of nowhere--Ehlena anyone? I feel like this was a filler novel, something Ward wanted to get out of the way before she moved on to her next story arc.

Some things I could not get passed:
*SPOILER ALERT*
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1) We've been told so many times that a hellren/shellan bond is stronger than anything. Why then did Tohr have to be the focus of a sexual relationship? This novel should have focused on Quinn/Blay or Layla, instead of making them side characters again (and hopefully the main characters in Ward's next book), and simply wrote Tohr and No'One as "helpers" to one another, to emotionally work out their issues and pain. Using his dead wife as a guilt trip to get him to sleep with another female was rather disgusting.

2) I always thought that in this vampire world, a needing was a hard, dangerous, but beautiful thing in which a male vampire was HONORED TO SERVE. Two needings happen in this novel and neither one are really treated with honor or beauty; they are practically swept under the rug with no one wishing to discuss matters further. (We can argue the 2nd, yes I know.)

3) The name change. Way to strike a blow for women everywhere when No'One has to get a man to give her a new name, to put her on the path of a new identity. Gag.

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5.0 out of 5 stars LOVER REBORN
A real page turner. J.R Ward delivers another must read from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Once you start reading its good till the last word and leaves you wanting for more.

Published 17 days ago by shones1976

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
This has been a series I really enjoy. I waited for this novel and even bought it in hardcover (I rarely buy anything in hard cover). Read more

Published 1 month ago by EllOnWheels

5.0 out of 5 stars OUSTANDING ADDITION
JR Ward Is a talented gifted writer. She has created a world that seems so real when you read it and its hard to put the book down even for a minute. Read more

Published 1 month ago by BTang

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great installment in the series
The BDB is one of my all time favorite series and it says something about JR Ward's writing as I am actually not that big a romance fan. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Urban Fantasy Review

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