Gwen’s review of Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5) by J.R. Ward
Paranormal romance published by Signet 25 Sep 07
This is the fifth book in the Brotherhood series. It’s based on a group of warrior vampires who protect their species, a species who is (we believe) secret from humans. Who are these warriors protecting their fellow vamps from? Why, some bad guys who smell like, uh, baby powder – the Lessers. Just roll with it, okay? Oh – don’t read all of this post if you care about spoilers. I have a few after the grade.
I love reading about the Brothers. I love that they’re giants and still have table manners. I love that they’re the protectors of their race, but still have flaws. I love the easy camaraderie between them. I have loved nearly all of the Brother’s stories. I even spent time on the BDB discussion forums – until they kept editing or deleting my not-always-PG13 posts (I know, shocking, isn’t it? LOL). I will probably keep reading the BDB books, but perhaps with a little less anticipation now that I’ve read LU.
I actually blame myself for this dilemma. I have come to expect so much from a BDB book. It would be nearly impossible for an author to consistently meet that archetype every time they step up to bat. At the same time, there are things I really did not like about this book, and those I place squarely at the author’s feet.
Ward has not managed to create a heroine I consistently like (really in any of her books, to be honest – not as Jessica Bird or J.R. Ward). All of her female characters have been weaklings or stricken with the TSTL curse. This book is no exception – the heroine starts strong, but ends on a weak, confusing note.
I was glad that this book didn’t harp on the bad guys, the Lessening Society. Those are the parts of past BDB books that I skipped or skimmed. The only time I felt the Lessers had any true evil was in Dark Lover. After that, they were too plastic or cookie cutter. All they lacked was a t-shirt that said, “I’m the bad guy.”
Unlike other reviewers, I had no trouble with the unusual aspects of Butch and V’s relationship. Complicated relationships and confusing emotional attachments are a fact of life. For a species for whom life is on such an emotional, primal edge as these vampires, it’s not surprising that Ward felt she needed to complicate this relationship between best friends. Complexity is a fact of life and it’s interesting to read about it – to me at least.
I had a problem with the amount of ink spent on Phury in this book. I would have preferred to get less of his back story, and more of V and Jane. I don’t doubt Phury’s story will be interesting to read, but I thought I was here for V and Jane.
There be spoilers ahead. Don’t click past the grade unless you wish to read them. For those of you who won’t be reading thru,
Grade: C
Summary:
The ruthless and brilliant brother Vishous possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn’t choose takes him into a future that does not include her…
Read an excerpt.
Keep reading for the rest of the review, spoilers and all…
Still with me? Okay.
I hate what Ward did to Jane in this book. It was tragic when Wellsie died, but it spurred an interesting storyline that I can’t wait to see how it pans out. In this book, Ward kills off another Shellan – Jane. I was sitting there crying, almost sobbing right along with V. Wondering what on earth would V do now, how would he survive without his mate, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
So what was there for me to dislike, you ask? What I disliked was WARD BROUGHT HER BACK! She kills Jane off – unnecessary, but hey, it’s a gritty, dramatic book, so I was prepared to deal. Main characters don’t die often enough in romances, in my opinion. There’s a whole different level of drama you get when characters have to deal with a loss like that. BUT THEN Ward “resurrects” Jane as a spirit! It was just weird and it relies too much on “suspension of disbelief” on my part. And the whole “non-corporeal” sex thing going on between V and Jane is just odd.
Ward had me until that happened. I mean, there were problems with the book – what book doesn’t have a bump or two – but it was totally an A review book. THEN SHE BRINGS HER BACK. Arrrgh!
Who knows. Perhaps Jane’s spirit-ness will play a key function at some point in a future book. Right now? It just pisses me off.
Other books in the series:
Har har Gwen 🙂
And the night before I was up past midnight reading guess what?
Two nights in row and I can’t even type! Thank you everyone, it is Friday- and perhaps another late night on the town!
She must be young. I can’t function when I stay up that late more than one night in a row.
I remember when…
I don’t want Layla to end uo with anyone. Look at how hard it was for Rhage and Mary to get used to Rhage feeding off Layla. I would hate for them to have to find another Chosen to do it.
I doubt that Rehv would want his mate feeding another male.
Well I really adore Rhage and Mary (unlike some) and have no feelings about Layla either way BUT damn that is sad. So basically she is just meat to feed Rhage and is allowed no life? Ever?
Of course I would be happy for Xhex to go away or die cuz I think it would hurt Marissa to have her end up some ones mate and move in and than get to see some chick Butch screwed in the bathroom everyday at first meal.
i totally agree with you, totally disappointment! i love the series, and i know that every one had a book or two that you go “ugh, ok next!” but damn! WTF im left unsettled, dissatisfied, and cheated. i really need to get over it, and in the same boat with you, i was on the boards anticipating with all the rest. to many inconsistencies, too many different characters, not enough of V and Jane.
Ew, thats right about Xhex (How do you say that name anyway?)
I don’t care all that much for Marissa, but I don’t want her having to put with Xhex.
It is funny how this book is becoming to be known as the WTF book. 🙂
But the one thing I must admit that I did like were the sex scenes with Jane and V. I seriously was fanning myself!
Ward can really write erotic sex really well.
About Layla, it isnt that I think she should have not have a life, but isn’t that what the Chosen are for? To be there for the needs of the Brotherhood?
I’ll just worry about Rhage if Layla take off or gets mated.
Okay, I just read J.R. Ward’s explanation for the Casper ending. It basically says that she was as surprised as we were. Okaaaaaaay.
But I have to confess that the Casper thing is growing on me. Oh, I will still join KatieBabs in refering to LU as the WTF? book. But, if you look at the series in it’s entirety, somehow it just fits. Go ahead and TRY to explain this series to someone that’s never heard of it. Go ahead. Because by the time you finish, saying “and the latest book had the heroine dying and coming back as a ghost that has to concentrate so people won’t walk through her and her BDB’s cursed hand makes her solid so they can boink together” well, it just seems to add one more reason why this series is so damn popular, doesn’t it?
Ya gotta admit, we sure as hell have NEVER read anything like it before, have we?
The Butch/V thing had such potential; I’d love to see what JRW could do with a m/m erotic romance. She does write some scorchy sex.
Oh yeah, I forgot that the hand is supposed to make her solid so they can do the deed.
So, Does he have to be touching her with that hand in order for her to stay solid, or can if be any part of his body?
SOunds complicated.
I read her explanation too and well, can’t say as it satisfy’s me but who am I to argue? ….just someone who forked out $11.65 for the fracking book!
She does say there will be a Slice of Life tomorrow showing? explaining? better how things will work out.
I went to her interview on Romance TV and she talks about how Phury’s book is really a set up for Rehvenge’s which left me thinking his(Phury) book will be like V’s, crammed with a bunch of other subplots-just when he was getting interesting.
Oh Well, I’ll still keep reading them until I get completely tired of them but I’m glad I’ve found some other author’s that are fast becomeing fav’s.
Lara Adrian
Kresley Cole’s -Immortals
and a new series coming soon about Dragon’s? I found out about it here but can’t think of the name of the author.
ouch 11.65?
I haven’t read anything on the board yet, is it easy to find?
The Dragon…. hmmm are you talking about Deborah Cooke’s new series?
I think its in the Warden room but don’t expect any big explanation.
Yes, I’m thinking about Deborah Cooke’s new series, can’t wait to read that.
I got it Friday, finished it Saturday and can honestly say I loved it. From start to finish, every shock, every tear, laugh and emotion. I was and am satisfied with the HEA, especially after reading the follow up slice of life on lifetime TV.
Okay, I’m online (finally), got my LU review up, and finally able to see what everybody else has to say. I think I liked this more than others. But I was definitely left feeling WTF at first. I bumped my grade up b/c I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and wanted to read again.
I heartily agree w/those who felt that V & Jane were given short shrift. Especially since it was in favor of annoying crap. The Primale thing? Bleh. Cormia? Bleh. JM feeling sorry for himself? Bleh. JM lusting after Xhex? Ohmigosh, make it stop.
I am awfully apprehensive about Phury’s book.
So Rehv’s mate has been in every book? Hmmmm…Could it be the Scribe Virgin? (NOOOOOOO) Maybe Fritz is really a girl. Hell, if Ward can make me like Phury’s book, I’ll believe she is capable of anything.
I am awfully apprehensive about Phury’s book.
me too…
It is a better read if you do them all in a row. And I think I would have liked it better as a ‘setup’ book if I didn’t feel I was being screwed into having to read the next 5, 10, 1000 books to get to the end of the current storylines. She is falling into the trap of by the time she gets to THAT characters book, she is too busy working on getting you to buy the NEXT book.
Yes, i am with you on the ghost or whatever she is thing. If she had to bring her back two things…!)if you had to bring her back, then why the hell did you kill her, 2) to bring her back, why couldn’t she pull a Mary thing???? maybe this ‘idea’ well play an important role later on, right now it’s just odd.
Deborah Cooke’s new series
I have started to plan out next years guest days and such (or at least my wish list and books to check out) and really I think it is gonna be a really great year.
And this series is way one to watch.
The post was about what I expected. So… I am totally on board to read Phury’s book. So I guess we just have to wait and see…
sula said:
Now that JRW has opened the ghost door, does this mean a return for Wellsie? Inquiring minds want to know…
I was wondering about that i don’t know why since i read alot of horror but the scene where sshe died and how really disturbed me i keep thinking about it.
i was wondering if maybe Ward would do a Darius thing and ressurect her as someone else
First off let me say hi to everyone, i’m new to the whole forum thing and i only started reading the books a week ago and i’ve just finished V’s book and all i can say is ummm.
Not sure what i thought i was disappointed, angry, disturbed and confused. I won’t get into Jane being a ghost cause i think the reactions of the majority on here reflect mine, and i’m also pissed off with the whole Phury wanting Bella thing i hate love triangles and to me it seems he just can’t bear the thought that his brother no longer relies on him and frankly i think Bella should get a clue and stop touching/flirting with him. sorry if any of you guys like them but for me Phury is the worst character. There was a few things i didn’t understand from books/posts so i have a couple of questions for you guys if thats ok?
1. when they dematerialize can they take people with them? i remeber reading something about V holding a laptop close to him and doing it so would it work with people?
2. can some one post the site/link to where you can read what the author’s response’s were to other questions and where i can post or e-mail questions to her
3. does anyone know if there’s gonna be Shellen’s or brothers of different ethnicities and if we will hear more about the wonderful Rhage?
4.how is the scribe virgin a virgin if shes had two kids? and does V know he has a sister?
5.how about the possibility of female warriors since Xhex is as big as a warrior anyway she might as well be put to use!
6.does anyone else think Johns “reaction” to Xhex is something to do with his rape? (i would explain this question more but i can’t remember to posting rules)
7. if there were black/asian/oriental lessers would they still end up with pale eyes/hair?
8. and finally has Ward written any other series i think i read some where on this site that the delay with releasing Phurys book was cause shes writing something else
9. sorry last one i promise! does anyone know or have any guesses how long this series is gonna be as the amount of characters in V’s book along means its gonna be a very long series.
thanks in advance even if you don’t know the answers i would be interested in peoples ideas
Keller
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