Posts Tagged ‘black dagger brotherhood’

Lover Mine: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
So I spent my entire weekend ignoring everyone and everything except for this book. I was hooked within the first few pages and could barely put it down. When I would walk away and *try* to get something productive done, I would find myself in a state of withdrawal…pretty much useless until I finished it.

I loved it! I loved how long it was, I loved how it seamlessly continued into the BDB world, I loved how there were four different stories going on at once, and I loved how J.R. Ward made us (and the characters) work to “get there”.

The author leads the readers through 4 (or is it 5?) stories, all interrelated to the characters in the book. While the main focus is John Matthew’s and Xhex’s story, the other narratives are just as prominent and relevant to the development of their world and affects the reader’s personal experience within their realm.

The author teases us…boy does she tease us. While you become wrapped up in a certain part of the story (and you will with most of the storylines in this one), she cuts you off just when you’re about to hit the “good part” and switches gears – somewhat frustrating, but the next chapter is always just as exciting or at least integral to the story as a whole. And you don’t have to wait too long to get back to the “good part” you were waiting for.

This book, while similar in style to her past installments, takes on a new perspective. While it characteristically reveals the daily lives and emotions of numerous characters at once, the author cleverly takes us back in time, in this one.

I have to tread carefully on my summary, because it is SO easy to give something away that would spoil something else. Every step of the way builds and builds, giving you insight, until it all collides into a grand revelation that will leave you stunned. While everything is pretty much “answered” in the end, you’ll be left with even more questions because of these revelations.

John Matthew (and all of the brothers) are desperately searching for Xhex. Fearing that she is dead, John Matthew devotes all of his energy into avenging the woman he truly loves (despite his impression that she doesn’t love him back).

Meanwhile, Xhex, alive and imprisoned by loathsome Lash, barely survives his nightly brutal physical and sexual assaults. I am relieved that these moments aren’t described in too much detail, but the image that is depicted is terrifying.

Lash’s delusional, sociopathic self is in full form in this book…

When you were the son of evil, there was little you couldn’t do, own, or kill, and yet her mortal self was an elusive trophy he could touch, but not put on his shelf.

This made her rare. This made her precious. This made him…love her.

Eventually, circumstances turn in Xhex’s favor. Lash is weakening and the powers required to imprison and hide Xhex (in plain view) are diminishing. As his powers abate, Xhex takes advantage of her one chance…but she is not completely out of trouble yet…

Her anger at Lash had been sustenance while she’d been jailed and abused, and she’d thought it would have kept her going outside as well. But the instant she’d made the call to Rehv, all her energy had drained out of her and left her nothing but a heartbeat. And not much of one at that.

Not waifish or weak in any sense, Xhex proved herself strong enough of wit, will and strength to hold her own against Lash. However her “humanity” eventually peeps through (ok ok…I know this is pushing it considering she is half vampire and half sympath but anyway…) let’s say… her “sense of self” can only handle so much abuse and mental anguish.

She felt sorry for the female who had been driven to such straits. Who had kept herself apart from all emotions.

The female had been born under a curse. The female had done evil and have evil done unto her. The female had hardened herself, her mind and her emotions becoming steel.

The female had been wrong about that locking down, that self containment.

It was not a case of strength, as she had always told herself.

It was strictly survival…and she simply couldn’t keep it up any longer.

As Xhex continues to struggle with her mental state, John Matthew witnesses her breakdown…

As she screamed and screamed, he vowed vengeance until his heart beat not blood, but the need for revenge.

And then Xhex took a series of big breaths. And a couple more.

“I think I’m done with that,” she said roughly.

I latched onto that whole part. It’s an amazingly descriptive yet distressing section. Despite her newfound “safety”, her will shatters, and she spirals downward reliving past tortures and emotional heartbreaks. This section is very honest, and you don’t just read about it, you experience it with her. In the past books, I enjoyed Xhex’s scenes, but didn’t actually like her (and thought she was all wrong for John Matthew). This book reveals her to be complicated and tough, yet very personal with a vulnerability I could finally connect to.

And while John Matthew and his crew have never failed to be entertaining, John Matthew’s self-indulgent brooding (even at the beginning of this book) was annoying. Yes yes…he had many reasons to brood, so of course he had the right, but I just didn’t wanna “hang out with him” when there were so many other brooding, yet less sullen Brothers to read about. To me, he was just a “kid”, and mostly acted like one.

It all changes somewhere in this book though. While he’s been a “man” in appearance for awhile now, he proves himself while appearing undaunted in the face of Xhex’s breakdown, and even more so in his realization and acceptance of other people’s distress (such as Tohr’s). Being forced to suddenly walk in Tohr’s shoes, so to speak, he learned a few very important things about life, and the unfairness of it, for everyone involved.

A sense of being observed had him lifting his head and looking over his shoulder. Tohr was on the far side of the door, standing in the office, staring out.

The two met each other’s stare and it was male to male, not elder to younger.

John was a different age now. And like so many things in this situation, there was no going back.

And a quick quote from one of many of my favorite moments between Xhex and JM:

Seemed like he’d lost his soul to her the very first time he’d laid eyes on her.

As he clicked off the light and she settled even closer to him, it felt like she was burrowing right into his cold heart and setting up shop, her banked fire thawing his soul out until he took the first honest-to-God deep breath in months.

So while we follow JM & Xhex on their path to self discovery and healing (and fighting – they are both warriors, lest we forget), the book continues to switch gears into different storylines, such as a T.V. production crew visiting a mansion to record a supposed “ghost” for a paranormal show. Huh? Wait- what??! Ghosts? Ok well that’s not a stretch considering Doc Jane, but…..ghosts? Really? And who are these humans we’ve never heard of before? Why are we following them around? And why, after so many of their sudden and somewhat irritating interruptions in MY book,  am I suddenly finding them endearing? It is quite perplexing considering they don’t seem to have anything to do with the Brothers, or even this series for that matter….Just wait, it’s pretty cool.

The book also opens with Darius’s induction into the Brotherhood, and his story continues intermittently, throughout. Wayyyyy back when (1600′s?)…when Wrath, Son of Wrath was just a prince, and Tohr, son of Hharm was also a young new recruit into the Brotherhood.

Experiencing Darius’s struggles as he becomes a warrior, and anguishing for Tohr as his father (also a Brother) disowns him…

Darius went over to the young male. That face…Dearest Virgin Scribe. The boy’s frozen gray face wasn’t sad. Wasn’t heartbroken. Wasn’t even ashamed.

His features were a veritable death mask.

…we venture with the two as Darius takes Tohr under his wing and they investigate the disappearance of a vampire female of worth. This too, keeps interrupting the “good parts” but this story in itself is fascinating, and explains A LOT! Good stuff and very important.

Last but not least, one of the main stories in this installment is that of Qhuinn and Blay.

They were destined to be friends…which compared to strangers, was something huge. Compared to lovers? It was the cold side of a locked door.

They essentially continue to struggle with their feelings for each other all the while adapting to their role in the Brotherhood. THIS story really had me hooked! It didn’t overshadow JM & Xhex, but to me, was just as captivating, almost as distressing, and equally addicting. I want more. I was NEVER disappointed when these two interrupted the part that I was reading…cause well, I love ‘em! While I might complain that there wasn’t enough of them (I think they need their own book, or a VERY BIG part in one), I will say that the tidbits J.R. Ward provides in their regard, were always intense, deeply emotional, and a great lead-up to what’s coming next for them.

And of course, there are some new character introductions. Layla and Payne’s stories are expanded, and as usual with J.R.’s characters, you can almost “feel” them. No matter how small a part a character might have in the book, they never fail to feel authentic (although I must say, The “Chosen” as sweet and angelic as they may be, continue to “irk” me a bit). I feel them (they’re very consistent in their reactions to their environment), but I just can’t quite relate to them.

So that’s it! Actually…that’s not it at all! Not even close. It must be read! MUST! You will not be disappointed…and if you are, read it again – you missed something!

The answer and question format at the Barnes and Noble Center Stage discussion area will continue until tomorrow. In the meantime, I  have gathered even more tidbits that I found particularly interesting (for the full effect, though, read the entire discussion on the B&N website. J.R. Ward gives off a great vibe when answering her fans! – LOVE her!)

AGAIN!! CAREFUL when proceeding below - *potential SPOILERS ahead* (but there won’t be many more, as apparently, the author has been warned that she is revealing too much)

• Tohr’s HEA will not be Payne, nor will it be the SV
• Zsadist will share more about himself to John Matthew, but he does hold some back.
• Tohr and JM will have some healing as JM begins to understand what Tohr has gone through.
• WOW Here’s something I’ve been mispronouncing… *blush* I’ve been pronouncing Xhex (“Zex” kinda like Xylophone – the X sounds like a Z, ya know?). The Warden actually pronounces it “Hex”…*hrmph* – did anyone else have it wrong?
• Oooh! She mentions V’s and Butch’s relationship, the tie is as strong as the one with their own mates, just on a different level. She also alludes to something about Butch, but then makes a point to say she will stop right there… (I wonder what that could mean?). I will admit, that pairing was (still is) intriguing to me…
• Fascinating little piece of info where she explains how her fan’s reactions to the ending of Lover Unbound, made her realize that what she sees in her head, does not always translate perfectly to the readers.
• Lassiter will get his own book, but I believe she is keeping him on the BDB side of things (even though he is a fallen angel, from what I have gathered, she will not necessarily be crossing him over to the Fallen Angels series)
• Wrath and Beth will eventually have a son!

While I catch up on the entire “Center Stage” discussion with J.R. Ward, I figured I’d post and comment on some of my favorite quick tidbits (it’s pretty much all interesting, and can be read in it’s entirety on the Barnes and Noble website here – lots of stuff about her different story lines, how she puts it to paper, her playlists and so much more!)

Sidenote to my mother (MOM – don’t read any of this until you are done the BDB series) - tee hee!

Also - there are potential *spoilers* below – so be warned!

Ok…onto the serious stuff:

J.R. Ward is on page 512 of John Matthew’s book, and soon she will be on to four weeks of revisions (she expects the book to expand between 600 and 800 pages!!) It will be called Lover Mine and will be out May 2010.

Hints on what to expect with Lover Mine: (mating ritual will not be what we expect – and apparently there will be lots of it between Xhex and JM, in fact it makes J.R. Ward blush!)

In Lover Mine, we will see a softer side of Zsadist with all his baby paraphernalia (how sweet is that! He is my favorite brother). Apparently, he is also the author’s favorite too!

Tohr will get his own book within the next 3 or four books. So sad – Wellsie remains in the Fade with her son, but Tohr does meet someone, someone we’ve seen before (I think this will be an amazing story – heartrending but wonderful…)

Qhuinn will get his own story, but she is not certain if it will be a short story or a stand alone book. Trez and iAm are hoping to get their own books.

Blay will also get a happily ever after… and that would be, you guessed it – Qhuinn

After John Matthew’s book, the next BDB book will be Payne’s (V’s twin sister, who if I’ve understood correctly, will be joining the Brotherhood). The induction ceremony will be the same for female or male (ouch!) but she is rethinking the whole “standing there naked” thing… Big revelation at the end of Lover Mine when someone (all of them?) find out who Wrath has been sparring with.

Rhage and Mary’s next big thing will have to do with children (it was rumored that it would be adoption, but J.R Ward is stating she has never specifically said that )

About the Fallen Angels series:

There will be at least seven books in the Fallen Angels series (including Covet). The next book in the series will be Crave (and the hero will be a very “HOT Isaac”). She discusses the criticisms she has received regarding the slower start with Covet, and difficulties and options that lead her to decide on that particular pace.

Adrian and Devina have a long history that will unfold over the course of the books…(old lovers maybe? eeeek!! I love Adrian. I love Eddie too!)

We might see the dead girl again (I saw that coming considering Jim’s reaction to her)

In the timeline, Covet took place during Xhex’s abduction (interesting…)

Hey I missed a cameo in Covet!! Butch was in the back of the church. Now I have to find it and re-read that part – how did I miss it?

Thanks to a “heads-up” twitter from Mandi over at Smexy Books, there will be a chat tonight at 8pm with J.R. Ward

click here to join the chat (according to Mandi, once the chatroom opens about 5 to 15 minutes before the chat starts, you can use anything for a login, no need for a password)!

AND!

she has even linked to a great J.R. Ward Question and Answer section “Center Stage” discussion over at the Barnes and Noble website (going on from October 19th to the 23rd).

 See you there

Despite being loaded with books after the book fair at the Romantic Times Convention, I realize in my excitement, I managed to forget or skip some very important purchases (that would help complete my already started series), sooo… I just had to get more! With all of the new releases going on right now, I definitely need to get a proper bookshelf! Here are a few of the books I purchased over the weekend, and more on the way (in the mail).

Latest purchases:

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7)  by J.R. Ward (been anxiously awaiting this one)

A Bite to Remember (Argeneau Vampires, Book 5) by Lynsay Sands (I am still trying to fill in the blanks with this series before I start it). A few books left to buy, and then it’s complete.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks (this one wasn’t even on my wish list, but my husband found it for me while I was browsing the romance section, and insisted I read it! I must admit, it does look intriguing, so it has become a part of my collection. What a sweet husband! He’s actually the one who found me the Adrian Phoenix books that I enjoyed so much).

Coming (hopefully within the next day or so):

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) / Southern Vampire Series) by Charlaine Harris – It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this one

Demon Can’t Help It by Kathy Love (I just finished part two of the Bourbon Street Trilogy last night, and am loving it!)

I Only Have Fangs for You (The Young Brothers, Book 3) by Kathy Love

So as you can see, lots of good reading ahead! I wish I could read full time…stupid work! I need to cut down on my work hours so I can read more! (tee hee!!)…wait a minute, shouldn’t I be working right now? Why yes I should be….shhhhhh…I was never here!

Newest releases (in stores now):

• Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7) by J. R. Ward
• Demon Can’t Help It by Kathy Love
• Burning Wild by Christine Feehan
• Eternal Moon (Moon, Book 10) by Rebecca York
• Forbidden Nights with a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 7) by Kerrelyn Sparks
• Bloodline by Maggie Shayne
• On The Prowl by Crystal Jordan
• Enchanting the Beast by Kathryne Kennedy
• Bride of the Wolf (The Shadowmen, Book 4)  by Jennifer St. Giles
• Edge Of Danger (Primal Instinct) by Rhyannon Byrd
• Eternal Craving by Nina Bangs
• Salt and Silver  by Anna Katherine
• The Mage (The Sons of Destiny, Book  by Jean Johnson
• The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox
• The Vampire’s Quest (Silhouette Nocturne) by Vivi Anna
• You’re So Vein (The Others, Book 7) by Christine Warren
• Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter Novels) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Immortal Hunter: A Rogue Hunter Novel (Argeneau Vampires) by Lynsay Sands
• Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh
• Passion Unleashed (The Demonica Series) by Larissa Ione
• Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel (The Demonica Series) by Larissa Ione
• Secret Life of a Vampire (Love at Stake, Book 6) by Kerrelyn Sparks
• Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) by Jaye Wells
• As Shadows Fade: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
• Bled Dry: A Tale of Vegas Vampires by Erin McCarthy
• The Thirteenth (Vampire Huntress Legends) by L. A. Banks
• Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel by Chloe Neill
• The Vampire’s Bride (Atlantis, Book 4) by Gena Showalter
• Forbidden: The Temptation by Samantha Sommersby
• Twilight’s Kiss  by Marly Mathews

1. Dark Lover
2. Lover Eternal
3. Lover Awakened
4. Lover Revealed
5. Lover Unbound
6. Lover Enshrined
7.  Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7)