LauraD’s review of Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6) by J.R. Ward
Paranormal romance released by Signet 3 Jun 08
Full disclosure: I am a J.R. Ward fanghirl. I have smoked the crack, I have consumed the KoolAid. However, I think I’m still capable of being honest about the good/bad/wonderful fraternal shift that is Lover Enshrined.
First of all, if you haven’t read any of the other Black Dagger Brotherhood Books, don’t start with this one. Ward doesn’t even try to give enough backstory to make sense of the multiple storylines making up the current book-you need to be familiar with the characters, their histories, and the world of the Brotherhood. In theory Lover Enshrined is the romance of Phury, the Brotherhood’s sensitive and drug addicted soul, who has been named Primale of the vampire race; and Cormia, who was named First Mate of the Chosen(a sort of pure vampire breeding pool).
However, as in Ward’s last book, the romance really takes a backseat to several other storylines-which is fine with me, because the continued development of John Michael, Quinn, and Blaylock, is obviously the future of this series. Three young warriors-in-training, great friends with a bond that will be both strengthened and tested. All three undergo separate rites of passage, and I can’t wait to see what happens to each of them next. For me, these guys were the strength of the book
The Lessening Society returns, and is a major part of the plotline. I’m not a big fan of the Lessers, I think they’re boring and they’ve never seemed to be much of an obstacle to the Brotherhood. There is a major plot twist involving the Omega, and readers do get a much better idea of where the Society came from and why they hate vampires.
Then of course, there are Rehvenge and Xhex, the sympaths. Rumor has it that the next BDB novel will be Rehvenge’s, and he certainly shows us something….new. And kinky. I kinda liked it. Xhex and John Michael manage to win hottest couple, without ever really touching — I’ll be looking forward to that book, and hoping Ward gives them plenty of private time.
Phury. Poor Phury. His romance got short shrift; he spent more time getting high than he did with Cormia. I can see Ward’s dilemma: she has to cure his addiction before he can get the girl. Unfortunately, he was so busy getting high and feeling guilty he never spent any time with Cormia. She is a typical BDB heroine; very bland. Their attraction felt very forced, and the ending of the whole Primale situation just didn’t feel right to me.
Some readers will be disappointed at the absence of old favorites. The Brotherhood Warriors make cameo appearances only, with the exception of Wrath. Shellans Beth, Bella and “Doc Jane” make appearances, and Jane still bugs me. Ward’s “cellies” will be excited to see a character that has existed on her messageboard for some time finally appear as part of the book mythology.
Overall, I gave Lover Enshrined a B. Yeah, the romance was weak. But I was invested in almost every character, lovedlovedloved the 3 young males (does that make me a vampire cougar?), and cannot wait to find out what happens next. More KoolAid, please!
Grade: B
Blurb:
As Primale of the Chosen, the fiercely loyal Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of his race. But his first mate, the Chosen Cormia, wants not only his body but his heart for herself. As tragedy looms over the Brotherhood’s mansion, Phury must decide between duty and love…
Read an excerpt.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought all the development in her world building was wonderful. The interactions and bond between Qhuinn, Bhlay, and John were great. I wasn’t feeling Xhex and John at first but after this book I’m so for them now. They were sexy as hell. There were ALOT and I mean ALOT of WTF moments and OMG moments for me. I think I spent the whole time with my mouth open. Boy does Qhuinn get things rolling. It was great to see a lost Brother come back. That was a tissue moment for me in the book and the ending too.
I agree that about the romance between Phury and Cormia. I really liked Cormia. I liked watching her grow and discovering herself. It was really hard for me to read about Phury. He really had some crazy crap going on. It was great to see all these perspective but I felt like not enough time was spent on the romance. And I have to agree with other reviewers this book was more of a Brotherhood world building move along book than Phury or Cormia’s story. The romance was ok because IMO there could have been more. I walked away feeling like they were cheated a bit out of their story.
With that said I still love the series and I’ll still continue reading it. She has me hooked with her world regardless. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the romance is a bigger factor for Revh’s book. I want to see where Tohr ends up. I want to know more about sexy Revh and Lassiter. I want to see where this new world is heading after all the HUGE changes in LE. I’m still addicted.
I appreciated your review LauraD. It seems like some of the other reviews out there have gone on a personal attack.
Interesting review and I agree that JM/Blay and Quinn were the highlight of the book, Rehv is still interesting and I will read his book but it’ll be the last for me.
Phury’s emotional self pity went on far too long and after all he’s done for the brothers, they effectively abandoned him.
Plots are just repetitive and predictable now.
I’ll stick with Lara Adrian and Kresley Cole.
I just ordered this book from Amazon. Was waiting to pick it up off paperbackswap but the wish list was taking too forever. I’m hoping I’ll enjoy reading the book – after reading all of the reviews.
I liked your review Laura; it was very informative and gave me a good feel for what’s what in this book. I never liked Phury and Cormia totally urked me in Lover Unbound, so I wasn’t that excited about reading this book straight away.
What’s good to know though, is that their story is not that big in the grand scheme of things in this book. But it’s great to know that Xhex and John Michael’s story is more explored. I was rather intrigued by the initial sparks between them in the last book. Now their story, I’d have to read straight away.
Sigh, so much for not reading the review. The last few books have really moved away from the central romance. A lot of people didn’t like the end of LU, but I wouldn’t have minded it if Jane & V’s romance had been more developed.
I was annoyed by all the time JM and co. took up in LU, but I’ve been apprehensive about Phury and Cormia, so I’ll probably be more interested in the new class this time around.
Ooh Rhev! Love him.
If Ward can get me into JM and Xhex, I will buy her a bottle of Scotch.
Lagavulin, of course. 🙂
My budget runs more toward Crystal Palace, distilled in Londonderry, NH. But maybe I’d spring for Stoli.
Wait that’s vodka. I don’t even know of any cheap Scotch brands.
Devon…she’ll get you to hop on the JM & Xhex train. I was leery of them as a couple too in LU but man the chemistry between these two was smoking even when they weren’t touching.
🙂
Okay, now I’ve read some other reviews (Bad girl!) but now I’m no expecting much from the romance, but I’m psyched for the other developments. And I did like Qhuinn before…
I (too) shall miss the romance. But sounds like there’s still lots of very interesting stuff going on! Will check it out.
The romance was rather blah, but I rather liked the book. Perhaps it’s because Lover Unbound was such a catastrophe for me that in comparison anything would be better? If I had cared half as much about Phury as I did V, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed Lover Enshrined much. You see the two supposedly “main” characters more often apart than together, and Phury spent way to much time moaning and smoking (and I hate that “wizard” thing he has goig on), but I liked Cormia better than expected. She doesn’t develop much in the course of the book in my opinion, but she wasn’t boring as I first thought she was in LU.
I miss the other brothers, and I’d have liked to see the Brotherhood care more about Phury even after they’d for all intents and purposes kicked him out. I still don’t care about Rehvenge either, so I had a hard time doing more than skim through his scenes. But Xhex finally sounds interesting, and I loved the young troika. I was also glad to see the war pick up a little because as annoying as the lessers are, they are supposed to provide one of the main plot elements. I’m not sure about the way the Omega’s response the the Destroyer is going to work exactly, but there might be something there. Anyway.
Now I have to decide whether I read Rehv, since I’m not interested in him. But then, given the place the “heroes” had in the last 2 books, maybe it doesn’t matter.
I stayed up late to finish it last night. My mouth dropped open several times and the ending had me in tears too. I really enjoyed the book. I didn’t get the Xhex and JM thing until this book as well. And Rehvenge intrigues me a great deal so looking forward to the next one. Overall, I definitely agree that it was a B. Before this book I wasn’t crazy about Phury. He was actually last on my list of the Brothers but I really felt for him all through this book. Ms. Ward did a great job and I feel like the series has turned a corner and there is going to be a lot of surprises in store.
Okay. I’ve stayed up most of the night and I’m still reading it. LOVE it so far. I’m half-way thru.
Damn you read slow… LOL
Considering I wasn’t able to slow down long enough to actually start reading until 10pm last night, I think I made pretty good progress! :-p
::looking for a Bronx cheer graemlin just for Sybil::