LOVER ENSHRINED
J.R. WARD
Contemporary Vampire Paranormal Romance
Signet (a branch of Penguin)
Sensuality Rating: Hot
ISBN# 0-451-22272-5
534 pages
$7.99
Print - Available June 2008
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Phury is a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a secret, elite group of vampires that fight the equally secret, but evil, Lessening Society. His twin brother, Zsadist is mated to Bella, who Phury thinks he also wants. Phury sacrifices his own future happiness to help his twin. When another of the Brotherhood needs his help, he again sacrifices himself and becomes the Primale, responsible for impregnating the 40 Chosen to help win the war against the Lessers.
Cormia is First Mate, the representative of the Chosen. She is called to mate with the Primale to complete the union between him and the rest of her sisters. At first, she is fearful of being the First Mate, but as her affection for Phury grows, so too does the hurt that he does not seem to want her.
I am a huge fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and was thrilled to receive an ARC for LOVER ENSHRINED. After shrieking my surprise at receiving an advanced copy, I settled right down to read it (to the neglect of my poor children) and finished it nine hours later. I wanted to know what was going to happen so badly that waiting was just out of the question. Was I in for a treat! I was completely engrossed. The story-telling, the surprises, the tragedy, the camaraderie, the love affair. Although the book is over 500 pages, the ending came much too soon.
This book was so blasted good!! Ms. Ward is the most clever, gritty, and original writer of romance that I have had the pleasure to read. She paints a picture with words that is brilliant; the reader will visualize the scene without it having to be described. One of the best lines in the whole book was “ it was already wet-obvious that he wasn't sporting Depends”. I just love the way she writes!
Fan's of the BDB may be worried that the romance in LOVER ENSHRINED would not live up to the beginning of the series after Jane and Vishous. They need not be concerned - I absolutely loved the story-line and budding relationship between Phury and Cormia!
Cormia seemed like a bland, listless character in LOVER UNBOUND, too reserved and self-sacrificing, but she really grows into herself and become a vibrant, textured, love-able character. She blossoms in this book, still gentle and looking out for the 'greater good', but also with deep emotions and a passionate nature. She is a much stronger character than I had hoped to see.
I also love the depth that we get to see inside Phury's head and what he was thinking in this book. The things the wizard (what Phury calls the voice in his head) said to him ring true and I think every reader will be able to relate to them. The reasoning behind Phury's self-loathing, self-destructive nature, hero complex, and drug use is slowly revealed and made my heart weep for him. His insecurity with Cormia, and the way he tries to be gallant with her, but can't, is priceless. They have several tender exchanges and towards the end of the book, the heat between them is explosive.
I was also drawn a little deeper into the lives of John Matthew and Rehvenge; I can't wait to read more about them as the series continues. One of the many surprises in LOVER ENSHRINED is the shift in the war between the Lessening Society and the Brotherhood, but you'll have to read that for yourself. LOVER ENSHRINED is an exceptional, exciting read that I was unable to put down until I had finished the very last sentence on the very last page! And now that I have finished, I am ready to go back and read it all over again.
You can join the hundreds who love the Black Dagger Brotherhood at www.jrward.com. Ms. Ward also writes under the name of Jessica Bird.
dawn
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
April 2008
J.R. WARD
Contemporary Vampire Paranormal Romance
Signet (a branch of Penguin)
Sensuality Rating: Hot
ISBN# 0-451-22272-5
534 pages
$7.99
Print - Available June 2008
Rating: 5 Enchantments
Phury is a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a secret, elite group of vampires that fight the equally secret, but evil, Lessening Society. His twin brother, Zsadist is mated to Bella, who Phury thinks he also wants. Phury sacrifices his own future happiness to help his twin. When another of the Brotherhood needs his help, he again sacrifices himself and becomes the Primale, responsible for impregnating the 40 Chosen to help win the war against the Lessers.
Cormia is First Mate, the representative of the Chosen. She is called to mate with the Primale to complete the union between him and the rest of her sisters. At first, she is fearful of being the First Mate, but as her affection for Phury grows, so too does the hurt that he does not seem to want her.
I am a huge fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and was thrilled to receive an ARC for LOVER ENSHRINED. After shrieking my surprise at receiving an advanced copy, I settled right down to read it (to the neglect of my poor children) and finished it nine hours later. I wanted to know what was going to happen so badly that waiting was just out of the question. Was I in for a treat! I was completely engrossed. The story-telling, the surprises, the tragedy, the camaraderie, the love affair. Although the book is over 500 pages, the ending came much too soon.
This book was so blasted good!! Ms. Ward is the most clever, gritty, and original writer of romance that I have had the pleasure to read. She paints a picture with words that is brilliant; the reader will visualize the scene without it having to be described. One of the best lines in the whole book was “ it was already wet-obvious that he wasn't sporting Depends”. I just love the way she writes!
Fan's of the BDB may be worried that the romance in LOVER ENSHRINED would not live up to the beginning of the series after Jane and Vishous. They need not be concerned - I absolutely loved the story-line and budding relationship between Phury and Cormia!
Cormia seemed like a bland, listless character in LOVER UNBOUND, too reserved and self-sacrificing, but she really grows into herself and become a vibrant, textured, love-able character. She blossoms in this book, still gentle and looking out for the 'greater good', but also with deep emotions and a passionate nature. She is a much stronger character than I had hoped to see.
I also love the depth that we get to see inside Phury's head and what he was thinking in this book. The things the wizard (what Phury calls the voice in his head) said to him ring true and I think every reader will be able to relate to them. The reasoning behind Phury's self-loathing, self-destructive nature, hero complex, and drug use is slowly revealed and made my heart weep for him. His insecurity with Cormia, and the way he tries to be gallant with her, but can't, is priceless. They have several tender exchanges and towards the end of the book, the heat between them is explosive.
I was also drawn a little deeper into the lives of John Matthew and Rehvenge; I can't wait to read more about them as the series continues. One of the many surprises in LOVER ENSHRINED is the shift in the war between the Lessening Society and the Brotherhood, but you'll have to read that for yourself. LOVER ENSHRINED is an exceptional, exciting read that I was unable to put down until I had finished the very last sentence on the very last page! And now that I have finished, I am ready to go back and read it all over again.
You can join the hundreds who love the Black Dagger Brotherhood at www.jrward.com. Ms. Ward also writes under the name of Jessica Bird.
dawn
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
April 2008
Your Romantic Element Reviewer
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