Review: "Lover Enshrined" by J.R. Ward

Title: “Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)”

Author: J.R. Ward

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 560

ISBN: 978-0451222725

Publisher: Signet

Date of Publication: June 3, 2008

4 stars: I couldn’t read it fast enough

I really should have been reading a book from my ARC pile, but you know how it is…  a book that you’ve been waiting for finally shows up and you have to dive right in :)

Before writing my own review I scrolled through a couple of others on Amazon.com.  I really was surprised at how many negative reviews this book got.  Personally, I liked it; however I guess I *sort* of agree what many are saying.  Most people are mad that this book is no longer ‘romance’.  J.R. Ward aka Jessica Bird is known as a romance writer which is why many picked up her books.  Although, Ward has always labled them as paranormal romance since the beginning.  I picked up the book because of the supernatural aspect to it.  While others complain about how they are now ‘urban fantasy’ books, I jump for joy.

I’m seriously astounded that they, as one person says in the amazon forum “read for the romance first and all the other ‘conflict’ is just background noise.”  My response (only in my head of course, because I’m not one for really fighting about stuff like this)?  Um…. hello? Plot?  Yes I’ve said it. I read the books for the plot.  Lol, I think if I was a guy it would be like saying I read ‘Playboy’ for the articles.  Don’t get me wrong, the romance is fine.  I like a good romance as much as the next girl!  However I’ve found that romance goes hand in hand with sex.  And sex can ruin a book.  So, while I do read the ‘romantic parts’, I usually skim through the racy parts in order to read the rest.

I also just came across this interview with J.R. Ward which actually addresses the romance issue:

RNTV: “OK, some ‘people’ (don’t you hate that, who are these people?), are saying, not me, ‘cause you know me… anyway, some people are saying you’re moving away from romance – that the books are larger than the genre. They seem to be having difficulty ‘categorizing’ your books. (personally, I say, forget about categorizing them, just enjoy them) But for those who need ‘parameters’ how would you categorize Lover Enshrined – in your mind is it still a romance and why?”

J.R. Ward: “I think it’s a romantic saga and here’s how I define that term: there is romance in every book. Absolutely. We’re talking about a pair of people falling in love and finding their happily ever after. But the BDB books are sagas because there are always multiple couples, with one being the main focus and the others playing a role not only in that primary relationship, but in the world at large. The thing is, the books are very long and have a lot of moving parts and I write them so that all the different plots peak in a way that supports and enhances the main couple. I also really like being able to go back and revisit the folks who have had their happily ever afters. For example, in Rehv’s book, LOVER AVENGED, Wrath returns with a vengeance! Additionally, most relationships gel over time, so it’s wonderful to be able to show people’s connections developing over multiple books, like John Matthew and Xhex.”

I love Ward’s characters- a brotherhood of vampires who live to protect their race.  I love how each book is a Brother’s story.  I love how even though it’s a Brother’s story, we get to see into the minds of other characters.  I love how the characters who were only minor in the beginning of the series are now being developed- Rhev, Xhex, John Matthew (who is the most fascinating of all).  I love how Ward has the ability to make me laugh in places, and cry in others.  I could go on and on.  This book is just as good as the previous ones.  Dare I say that it is better than some?   

As for the loss of one star… Well, I know I’m picky, but I’m not fond of the “Glossery of Terms and Proper Nouns” that’s in the front of all the books.  While maybe it was helpful in the beginning, by now everyone knows what the words mean.  Additionally some of the words are continuously italicized throughout the books… which gets old after awhile.  Overall though, I’d recommend this book and the previous ones in this series!  I look forward to J.R. Ward’s next book… which will apparently be “The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide” out in October 2008.

The books in order are Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1), Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2), Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3), Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4),–find my review here, Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5), and now Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)

**See other reviews for this book here and here.

 

Missed my last post?  It was TUESDAY THINGERS.

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