As I said in my non-review, I will likely read Rehvenge’s book, I just won’t pay hardback price for it.

And depending on where she goes with it, I may drop the series altogether *shrug* After V’s book I’ve felt more and more let down (underwhelmed is the word), so I don’t view it as a huge loss.

Sometimes I think Ward spends too much time on the boards – revealing tidbits and spoilers. (I said this on the boards once and you can imagine the reaction. ROFL. It was classic) She builds up the books to an unrealistic level. She should have told her fans that she was changing genre from romance to UF. I don’t think the “whining” would have been as bad if she had been upfront about it.

::pout::

I don’t wannnnnnnnnnnntttttttttt urban fantasy

::crosses fingers::

All the love in the world for the New Kidz won’t change that. V got screwed, and Phury got screwed. And I liked the books!

I love UF, so that direction doesn’t bother me, but I’ll be adjusting my expectations for Rehv’s book. And checking it out of the library.

Now I am not saying that is what Ward did here but I admit from the first time I hear ‘ten book’ series I saw red flags. I think the series derailed with LU and LE was ward doing her best to get back on track.

For me if I hadn’t seen improvement in Lover Enshrined I would be calling it quits too. As is I soooo found… hope the series might go back to the first four which I lurved.

If Rehv’s book is more of a move into urban fantasy (which I saw many signs of in Enshrined) without a return to a stronger romance that will be my last novel in this series. And I will prolly whine about it a hella lot.

I look at in a lot of different ways but it mostly comes down to Urban Fantasy can be a good book but there are too many Romance novels I want to read to waste the time on a genre I am luke warm about.

Of course thinking about it… I end up abandoning most series because the author can’t make it work or me, keels characters (STILL bitter about Sookie series), ends up writing about the sister of the first hero’s cousin twice removed or whatever…

And it does annoy that Brotherhood 90210 took up so much of this book. YES the plot needs to move forward but not at the expense of the core story. And this book, IIRC, wasn’t labeled romance at all. If that is to try and broaden the readership – whatev I can roll with that.

BUT if that is because the series is moving into too many threads to allow JR Ward to tell a complete romance in one book under 500 pages and is moving into Urban Fantasy… well color me out.

And I am sure she will be fine without me as a reader of this series. I admire the hell out of JR Ward and think she is very talented. But your enjoyment of crap doesn’t negate my view of it anymore than me thinking it is crap takes away from your lurve. (and I mean that in the general sense I liked Lover Enshrined for the most part )

A large part of what I think you see as ‘whiners’ are the Rabid Fangrrls and I would argue Ward’s boards, yahoo group and the brothers ‘interacting’ with the readers is a large part of why there are so many rabid of this series and such a sense of entitlement.

Of course it is also why Ward has the contact and success she has so far. Tough spot for an author to be in…

But for anyone who took the review in the since of any opinion is ‘wrong’ that isn’t true. Sandy M’s review is spot on – for Sandy M. As any review would be for any reader.

You are correct. Ward even admitted that months ago.

I felt ripped off at the end of this book. It was my own fault, though. I knew not to read it, but I did it anyway.

Phury was a part of the series long before any of “the kids” (not to mention the other brothers and mates who must be in the witness protection program) and she left 90% of Phury’s story out of Lover Enshrined. The back of the book said it was about Phury & Cormia. It wasn’t. There’s no reason why JR Ward couldn’t have made this book about its supposed hero and had “the kids” as a subplot, rather than the other way around. Or if this is the way she wanted to go, the blurb on the back should be changed. It does not describe the content of this book.

This book was written solely to set up future books, not to stand on its own IMO. The romance between the supposed protagonists was nonexistent, and the main characters themselves throwaways. The series is called “Black Dagger Brotherhood,” not “Vamps Who Know the Black Dagger Brotherhood.”

I’ve walked away from the series because, to me, the last two books were like that. Her current direction isn’t one I want to read about. And I really hate how she pumps everyone up on her board “It’s the hottest book EVER!” and when you read the book it’s the same flat heroine, same type of love scene. Watch – she says Rehv is going to be so hot, so masculine, so this, so that. He’ll be the same whiny (there’s that word again!) angst-ridden hero that she turned the others into. What she did to V, she might as well have taken his other ball too.

In answer to the “what do I read now” question a ways up; Kresley Cole, Sydney Croft, Laurissa Ione is one to watch, and Lara Adrian.

And it’s fine not to like a book or three or whatever in a series that you’re reading – that happens to all of us – I’m more focused on those who want to walk away totally because of one book. That’s what’s happened so far in this series. The people I’ve been referring to have said they won’t go back to this because of how they felt about LEn. I still submit that’s a huge overreaction, especially when you have no idea what’s coming up.

And, no, azteclady, I believe I did refer to you as a serious reader in my last comment! And everything to do with reading is definitely relative, as we all find out every day when we write and read reviews! It’s just the overreactions, as I’ve said, that bother me.

I agree with you, azteclady on liking some not all.

I think what would be better than the never ending series, would be starting a *completely new* just as fabulous series! And the fan base would be there, and it would be something as amazing as those first few books!
[And this is how I feel about all discursive series]

What is minimal to you may be the one thing that I enjoyed–or the most important of the things I enjoyed. Or the one thing that broke the camel’s back.

It really is all relative. I can love love love the first few books in a series and flat out hate the many after (Christine Feehan, Stephanie Laurens, etc.).

Does it make me any less of a serious reader? Apparently, in your eyes, it does.

In my eyes? It makes me discriminating.

And with all the opinions out there about not just this book and how readers get worked up over things such as what we’re talking about, and just the comments left here, and while it may have been a broad statement, you can’t tell me there aren’t “serious readers” out there! Sheesh, just these few folks who have shared their opinions here today would be considered serious because they have fierce and definite opinions about books. My point being a good book is a good book. You may have issues with it on certain aspects, but that doesn’t negate the fact it’s a good book. There are a couple of things I didn’t like about the book, which I didn’t put in my review so it wouldn’t spoil things for those who haven’t read it, but that didn’t turn me off the entire book or make me turn my back on the series altogether.

I realize that I don’t look at reading the way a lot of you do. Yes, I’m more easily pleased when I read. I like the majority of what I do read. But with all the dang reactions that happened with this book, it just seems, now that I’ve read it, a lot of it was overreaction. Guess that’s just me taking exception with all those opinions like ya’ll are taking exception with my review! Which you’re more than welcome to do. And you’ll probably take exception with some of what I said here too, but it keeps us talking!

LOL, and I’m not always nice. I did just give a book a D+!

Yeah, I know, and it’s good to have all sorts of different points of views on the same book, no? So different readers find the reviewer they identify most with.

What do you mean? like Fangrrl vs RABID fangrrl?

LOL azteclady! Honestly if it had been anyone other than Mikey I prolly would have. It is a broad statement and personally I don’t believe in the concept of ‘serious reader’ anymore than I do ‘TEW FAN’.

People like what they like and hate what they hate… but uh you know me

At the same time, each reviewer is free to say pretty much whatever. ::shrug:: And I am sure I don’t have to say this but you are welcome to take exception. LOL but I am thinking you knew that.

If you’re a serious reader, if you’re a true fan of this series

As it is, though… nah!

I would ‘guess’ jmc that isn’t what she meant by ‘whining’ but more of the fangrrl, ::hair toss:: how can you do this to meeeeeeeeeee I never reading you again type thang.

You are making too much sense (well you always do) to ever be a fangrrl. I admit, the review amuses the hell out of me because it is Sandy. Sandy is mikey and so nice I don’t think butter would melt in her mouth. So the ‘whiner’ comments was funnah.

but I have an odd sense of humor

Why/how is it “whining” to say that?

I can’t be the only one that imagines that those women never ever go outside. Well, maybe Casper can.

I totally agree with most of what you say Maered. HATED that bathroom scene.

but… but… I adore Marissa

LOLOLOL I think it might just be me *g*

The sad thing is that LEn wasn’t about Phury or his journey to a HEA. It was a book designed to expand her series and there is no doubt that the romance between Phury and Cormia suffered as a result of that. Especially Cormia. She was just another Marissa – but blander and had even less personality, if thats possible.

I was seriously resentful of the New Class taking up so much time in LU, but they made this book. Love. I even like Xhex now. It’s very clear where JRW’s interest is writing wise, and she definitely seems to be more into exploring ‘her’ world as a whole these days.

I’ll still be reading, I’ve been looking forward to Rehv’s book for awhile, but the thrill is gone. I used to be so excited over a new book. Now I’m expecting mediocre romance and a bland heroine. The balance needs to be found btw romance and action, and the world needs to stay consistent and detailed. That’s what made us all go gaga.

I am not sure where this is going and I think it largely has to do with the next book. I am very interested, I admit it. There are so many questions for me…

Can she carry it to Hardcover? Is she totally going over to a Urban Fantasy subgenre or was LE because the series needed the plot set up to move forward.

A big reason I am not on board with Brotherhood 90210 is because they are taking up time from the core stories and couldn’t some of that be moved to the next book did it HAVE to happen here? It really robbed Phury from having a true romance. And took too much screen time in the book so it makes me seriously dislike them.

There is a great potential here but it is a matter of balance and remembering the reader doesn’t see the movie unless the author is conveying it in words. There just seemed to be too much missing and by the end it had a shit need to wrap this up feel to it.

I don’t want to read Urban Fantasy and I SERIOUSLY do not want the paranormal never ending Cynster series. JR Ward is talented and has created a world and characters I enjoy. I think she will find the balance in there. Because she is getting better as a writer.

My question is will she take the brotherhood in a direction I can follow. I didn’t think she could after V’s book… and Phury’s gave me hope. This still wasn’t there but was so much better in my mind than V’s in the way of storytelling, character and craft I have hope.

And I REALLY want the pimptastic book. Color me odd…

Have you replaced the crack with a new habit? What books are you reading now