Wow. Where to start? I am a huge J.R. Ward/BDB fan. Once I discovered the series, I bought (and read) each subsequent book the day it came out. I have
Wow. Where to start? I am a huge J.R. Ward/BDB fan. Once I discovered the series, I bought (and read) each subsequent book the day it came out. I have purchased the ebooks on release day as well as been part of the past 3 virtual signings (including this one) where I have ordered an autographed copy. So we've established I'm a fan. Oh, I even paid the ridiculous amount of $15.81 (tax included) for the Kindle version of this one the day it came out even though I have an autographed hardcover that will be arriving at my home in the next few days.
Again, I'm a fan. I feel the need to stress that particular point before I continue.
1. The cover. I have read for months how much folks hate the cover. Personally, I like it. A lot. The photos on book covers never come close to what I see in my head while I'm reading the book. This one did. Pretty much dead on in how I saw Tohr.
2. Qhuinn and Blay. Everyone wants their story. People got downright nasty when the author announced that the next book (this one) was Tohr's. Holding off on telling Qhuinn and Blay's story is a genius move. Because everyone wants their story, of course Ward will save them for later. Who else will you look forward to? Who is left other than Lassiter and the Band of Bastards? Seriously. Also, I have read various comments over the past few months about how the Qhuinn and Blay story may be a novella or something along those lines. Again, people (myself included) believe they should have their own full length book. But yet I have read comments that say "Sure I want a full length book but don't make the sex graphic because it's two men." Seriously? It's okay to get REAL graphic between the male and female couples but not the two people we are looking forward to the most? Either way doesn't matter to me as long as their story is told well. After reading this particular book, I'm now almost afraid to read it when it comes out.
3. Autumn. Seriously?????
4. I noticed where there were tons of 5 star ratings for this book before it was ever released. For those (like me) who love the "brothers" I can understand the excitement. BUT... I refuse to give a 5 star rating to ANY book unless I've read it and unless it is worthy of that rating. This is definitely is not in my opinion, regardless of who wrote it or what series it is part of. I disliked Phury's story. I disliked Payne's story, though I loved the stories in the background. Those were my two least favorites. Lover Reborn might now rank at the bottom for me.
Now to my opinion of Lover Reborn.
+++++++++++POSSIBLE SPOILERS++++++++++++
Not even close to the others. I was really looking forward to Tohr's story. We (fans) have watched him from book 1. We watched him happy. We watched him in despair. We watched him go from the top of the world to the very bottom. So I could not wait to see him have his HEA.
What in the HELL happened? After a little bit of reading I could see where the author was going with No'one. It made a lot of sense and I could actually see where it just might work. It was finally time for Tohr to move on and I actually felt that the author was moving in the right direction. Sure we all wanted Wellsie back but I was willing to accept the way things were going. Then it went to hell. Tohr became an ass. The strong, decent male from the other books became a user and a jerk. I found myself feeling sorry for No'one as the book progressed. I got to the point where I was wishing she would tell him to shove it and then disappear back to where ever she came from.
Other than the episode (that I won't go into) where he told No'one (Autumn) exactly how he felt (and not in a good way), the thing that really did it for me was one line: Even his Wellsie. That should have never been added. Those three words were WAY OFF and should have been left out of the book, for obvious reasons. It made it look like "Okay, I loved Wellsie but I love you more." I didn't like that at all. So Tohr went through all that hell over a long period of time mourning his lost love but suddenly: Not even Wellsie.
It took me 3 days to read this book. I have never, EVER taken longer than one day or so to read a BDB book. I was not into it at all. The back stories normally make the book for me. This time? No way. I didn't get the John and Xhex thing. I GOT it but the length of time it went on made no sense. No communication? No talking at all? For months? Xcor and his guys were okay I guess and they added a little excitement.
There was one surprise that I did not see coming. Layla. I was prepared to hate her character as I did in the last book but I didn't so much this time. I was actually happy that the author took her (and Qhuinn) in a different direction though I did not like what happened between the two of them. Of course we knew it was going to happen (we were told this already) but I was still prepared to hate her.
This book bored me. Seriously bored me. I am usually holed up away from the world when a new BDB book comes out. I can't wait to get back to reading it. This one? Not so much. Well, not at all. I had to force myself to turn on my Kindle and I found myself checking constantly to see what percentage I was at in the book so I could see how much longer before I could finally, FINALLY finish it.
I hate giving a BDB book a bad rating and review. Even Phury's story (that really sucked in my opinion) rated higher than this one. I may go back and reread the first few books in the series just to remind myself that it really IS a good series. Nothing can compare to Wrath's, Rhage's, V's and Z's books. I even liked John's. Maybe by rereading those I will (maybe) appreciate this one more. Doubtful though.
I will stay a fan. I will be one of the first people to go to her website and order an autographed copy of the next book. I will do this as long as she is writing them and continues to do the virtual signings. I will always love this series and I will wait patiently with everyone else to see Qhuinn and Blay finally get together. But I refuse to give this a higher rating than I feel that it deserves. My opinion. Nor will I write a glowing review for a book that disappointed me on so many levels. THIS is the book I was looking forward to the most. After Payne's story I was so eager to see another brother... one of my favorite brothers... get his own story... finally. And the way this one turned out bothered me for that reason.
One of my friends on here commented about how brutal we BDB fans can be. She was right. But we all have our opinions... good and bad.
All was not bad. The surprise toward the end was pretty awesome. Sadness, happiness, devastation and then happiness again. Then our favorite angel redeemed himself and others. I love Lassiter and I can't wait to see him get his own HEA. By stating that he had "been in love once" I hope that means that he will have his own book in the future... near future....more
**spoiler alert** I am a huge J.R. Ward fan. I have loved this series since I read Dark Lover way back when. But this was one book that I can honestly**spoiler alert** I am a huge J.R. Ward fan. I have loved this series since I read Dark Lover way back when. But this was one book that I can honestly say that I wasn't really looking forward to. Why? Payne. I was not looking forward to reading her story. I was not impressed with her character in the others and I did not want to read an entire book about her. The other books in the series were about one of the Brothers. I did not care to read about V's twin.
With that being said I will say what I DID like about the book:
I loved that it basically could not be read as a stand-alone book. Okay, it COULD be but it would be confusing. I loved how there wasn't page after page explaining what had happened in all the other books. It basically jumped right into what happened after Payne's injury without a bunch of b.s. explanations.
I loved how the book was more about V and Jane than Payne and Manny. Vishous has always been one of my favorite "brothers" so it was cool to see more of his and Jane's story. Also, it was nice how the Butch/V relationship was finally explained. I found myself rushing through the chapters about Payne and Manny to get to V's or Qhuinn's.
I also liked how the Qhuinn and Blay relationship (or lack thereof) is coming together, though I do not like what I see happening with Layla and Qhuinn in future books. Layla is a character that just gets on my nerves and I do not want to see more about her.
I love how the author was willing to go a bit farther with the Blay/Saxton thing as far as allowing there to be some (however small) touch between the two of them. She seems willing to venture into the gay thing but only slightly. I wish she (and her publishers) would understand that we fans want more of Blay and Qhuinn and that a novella will not do the two characters justice. Not to her real fans anyway.
Also, she was more blunt in her use of language.
I like the Butch/Manny connection.
Now to what I did NOT like about the book:
Payne and Manny. Yes, I know it was their story but I wasn't really that impressed. Her "healing" happened too fast and the way she was healed? Strange. Very, very strange. Their relationship (at times) read like a sappy romance novel. Where was all the fighting? The angst? The complications? There were very few and when they WERE there, they were resolved too quickly. Totally unlike the other BDB stories.
Vishous went from wanting to kill Manny to being supportive way too fast, in my opinion. Yes, he was trying to save Payne's life but it just happened too quickly.
Xcor. Okay, so he watched his "Dad" get murdered in front of him and he spent centuries searching for the woman who killed him, vowing vengeance. He finds her (Payne), kidnaps her and takes her back to his place so that his soldiers can violate her and then he can kill her. Only she explains to him that he is not, in fact, the child of Bloodletter so he can't harm or kill her. And it was like "Oh, okay. Not only will I not harm or kill you, I will stand guard at your door and prevent my men from coming near you."
C'mon! Seriously? Just like that all is forgiven?
There was very little in this book about any of the brothers except Vishous and Butch. Where was Z? Rhage? John Matthew? The others? Granted there were little snippets in there about them but not much.... definitely not enough. And Tohr? Mentioned 1 or 2 times in the entire book? His character is pretty important (as are the others) and I felt that there should have been more.
Not sure how I feel about the new detective and where Ward will go with his character. I will reserve judgment until the next book.
The ending........... hmmm............ I guess saying it was just BAD would be wrong. But Payne riding off on a horse with her hair flying in the wind? Seriously????? That, and the lines written after that, were written more like a sappy romance book ending than a BDB book.
I am giving this book 4 stars (instead of less) because of the V/Jane thing. And because I love Qhuinn and Blay and the other back-stories that she puts in her books. I have totally enjoyed watching as each character has taken shape. My least favorite in the series will always remain Phury's story, but this one comes close.
I look forward to seeing where she goes next.
I just received my autographed copy in the mail. It was nice how she personalized it. It is, however, doubtful that this will be one that I read again and again, as I have with some of her others in the series....more
I found this story online by accident. I am so glad I did, as Zsadist has always remained my favorite character in the Black Dagger Brotherhood seriesI found this story online by accident. I am so glad I did, as Zsadist has always remained my favorite character in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This is a MUST READ for anyone who has read his story. It explains so much that is not explained in the full-length book. You will get a whole new understanding of his character and his life before Bella and the baby....more
Right off, I totally loved this book. I have been anxiously waiting for John's story to come out and when it did, I couldn't read it fast enough. I amRight off, I totally loved this book. I have been anxiously waiting for John's story to come out and when it did, I couldn't read it fast enough. I am a huge J. R. Ward fan and have read the BDB books more than once.
Okay, that being said, there were a couple of things that I wasn't thrilled with. I won't go into what they are because it will be too telling for those who have not read the books. And like all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, there are still a lot of things that didn't come out when they should have. Granted, I know they will come out in later books, possibly Tohr's. I guess I am impatient. And there was a storyline in the book that broke my heart, and I am not referring to John and Xhex's story. Those who have read this will know the "who's" and "what's" that I am talking about. I hope that J. R. Ward gives those characters their own story sooner rather than later.
I really loved this story, though early on in the series I wasn't too thrilled with Xhex. I still wouldn't have chosen her for John Matthew but it worked out in the end....more
I had high hopes for this book and for the wrong reasons. I have read every one of her J. R. Ward books, and while I knew the writing style is supposeI had high hopes for this book and for the wrong reasons. I have read every one of her J. R. Ward books, and while I knew the writing style is supposed to be different, I didn't expect it to be so different that the story was almost bad. A good writer can write different with each persona (i.e. Evan Hunter/Ed McBain). Boy did she pull that off with this book! I think I will stick with her "other" persona and not read any more of her books written under her own name. Maybe I am being unfair but I have read enough books over my lifetime to recognize a really great book (all under J. R. Ward) or a really boring book, like this one....more
If it's by J. R. Ward, it's a great book. This is the start of a very good series. Very different from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but with tIf it's by J. R. Ward, it's a great book. This is the start of a very good series. Very different from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but with the same writing style. I can't say enough about her books....more
My least favorite in the series. Love the series. Love the author. But very disappointed in how Phury's character played out.My least favorite in the series. Love the series. Love the author. But very disappointed in how Phury's character played out....more
I think I need to reread this one to remind me of why I love the series so much. I've read it several times over the years but after reading Lover RebI think I need to reread this one to remind me of why I love the series so much. I've read it several times over the years but after reading Lover Reborn (#10 in the series) I think I need a refresher. Hopefully this will bring back the love, so to speak....more
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