Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 592
Source: Library Loan
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Review Date: July 16, 2012
Rating: 5 bookmarks
finished this book on Friday morning, not exactly sure why it took me so long to finally sit down to write this review. Initially, I wanted to make sure that all my thoughts were in proper order before I began rambling on and this turned into a 5 page review. Trust me, it's possible because there is so is so much to cover. I wasn't sure what I'd mention or not. So in the end, I decided to try to talk about this book without mentioning specifics and staying away from spoilers if I can help it.
First, let me just say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Back when the book first came out in March, I recall some readers being totally against this story. It seemed to be an overwhelming consensus that the fans wanted Wellsie be brought back by the Scribe Virgin to be with Tohr. Many of the BDB fans didn't understand why J.R. Ward wanted Tohr's character to be stuck with No'One (aka Autumn) when others had gotten their mates back from the fade in previous books. Personally, I did not have a preference going into this book. That may be partially why I liked it so much, I wasn't set on Wellsie being brought back from the dead.
I liked how Ward introduced the In Between, sort of like purgatory, but different. That was a ingenious way to explain why Tohr was having so many issues and how he played a part in Wellsie and their child's passing on into The Fade. I'm glad she didn't do what a lot of fans wanted, because I honestly like Tohr and Autumn together. They both had to overcome heart breaking situations and they healed each other. In Tohr's case he really had to help himself in order to help Wellsie. Their situation was not ideal or overwhelmingly romantic, but you have to respect a couple that can beat the obstacles that they had.
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 592
Source: Library Loan
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Review Date: July 16, 2012
Rating: 5 bookmarks
finished this book on Friday morning, not exactly sure why it took me so long to finally sit down to write this review. Initially, I wanted to make sure that all my thoughts were in proper order before I began rambling on and this turned into a 5 page review. Trust me, it's possible because there is so is so much to cover. I wasn't sure what I'd mention or not. So in the end, I decided to try to talk about this book without mentioning specifics and staying away from spoilers if I can help it.
First, let me just say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Back when the book first came out in March, I recall some readers being totally against this story. It seemed to be an overwhelming consensus that the fans wanted Wellsie be brought back by the Scribe Virgin to be with Tohr. Many of the BDB fans didn't understand why J.R. Ward wanted Tohr's character to be stuck with No'One (aka Autumn) when others had gotten their mates back from the fade in previous books. Personally, I did not have a preference going into this book. That may be partially why I liked it so much, I wasn't set on Wellsie being brought back from the dead.
I liked how Ward introduced the In Between, sort of like purgatory, but different. That was a ingenious way to explain why Tohr was having so many issues and how he played a part in Wellsie and their child's passing on into The Fade. I'm glad she didn't do what a lot of fans wanted, because I honestly like Tohr and Autumn together. They both had to overcome heart breaking situations and they healed each other. In Tohr's case he really had to help himself in order to help Wellsie. Their situation was not ideal or overwhelmingly romantic, but you have to respect a couple that can beat the obstacles that they had.
Beyond the main relationship story-line of Tohr and Wellsie, there are so many other sub stories going on and that I LOVED, I was never bored and felt that I not only got to know Autumn, but I also felt like I got to know much more about Lassiter, which was fun to read. Throughout the book. you can see clear character growth between Tohr and John and Xhex and Autumn, it was nice to see them both develop and work to repair relationships with their respective parents.
There was also a pretty intense story going on between Xhex and John, which was interesting to see them having so many martial issues so soon after being mated. It was refreshing to read about a couple with issues after the mating. Usually all the mated couples are blissfully happy go lucky after that. This was a nice change of pace.
We also got a serious dose of the crazy and deranged B.O.B. aka, Band of Bastards. Xcor and his bastards are scary and have some serious plans for Wrath and the Brotherhood. I can see these guys being the main adversary for the brothers for the next several books. The battle between them could go on for a while. Previously, I never really cared for Layla, her character was always background noise. Thanks to the B.O.B. and some other interaction with Qhuinn, I can see her role becoming more pronounced in future books, which could be exciting to read.
I thought the twist at the end was pretty clever. I could see it coming about a couple pages before, but when I read it, my reaction was still "WOW, that's awful!!!" BUT, of course Ward reels us back in from shock with a nice conclusion. Now I just have to wait patiently for the next book Lover At Last, which is Qhuinn and Blay's book. Waiting until March will be hard, I'm so excited for that installment!
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
There was also a pretty intense story going on between Xhex and John, which was interesting to see them having so many martial issues so soon after being mated. It was refreshing to read about a couple with issues after the mating. Usually all the mated couples are blissfully happy go lucky after that. This was a nice change of pace.
We also got a serious dose of the crazy and deranged B.O.B. aka, Band of Bastards. Xcor and his bastards are scary and have some serious plans for Wrath and the Brotherhood. I can see these guys being the main adversary for the brothers for the next several books. The battle between them could go on for a while. Previously, I never really cared for Layla, her character was always background noise. Thanks to the B.O.B. and some other interaction with Qhuinn, I can see her role becoming more pronounced in future books, which could be exciting to read.
I thought the twist at the end was pretty clever. I could see it coming about a couple pages before, but when I read it, my reaction was still "WOW, that's awful!!!" BUT, of course Ward reels us back in from shock with a nice conclusion. Now I just have to wait patiently for the next book Lover At Last, which is Qhuinn and Blay's book. Waiting until March will be hard, I'm so excited for that installment!
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
Get the Kindle version here: Lover Reborn: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
