Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

8 reviews

annaclairereads's review

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I found this one difficult to get through bc of the multiple different storylines and and not as much focus on the main protagonists 
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allingoodtime's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 
As I don’t find the stories in this series to be great as standalone, I’m going under the assumption that if you’re thinking of reading this book you have read the previous books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Therefore, you know Phury has a drug problem. I want to be perfectly clear to those that need content warnings, this story goes deep into that addiction. If detailed descriptions of drugs, drug use, drug addiction, etc. will be detrimental to you I’d strongly advise you to read a good recap of this story and move on to the next in line.

While Phury and Cormia are the main event in this book, their love story is not as prominent as the other couples have been. A lot is going on in this story. I know that can be said about all of the books in this series, but it’s even more chaotic here. Not in a bad way. As each story has been told, things have been ramping up between the vampires and the lessers. It is safe to say that by halfway through this book they are in an all-out war. There are glimpses of people from the past, more about Rehvenge is revealed, things within the Lessening Society have been turned upside down and sideways, and the way things are traditionally done with the Chosen is being questioned.

Although I’m not a fan of the parts of these books that go into the POV of the lessers, it was necessary for this story. I can’t say much without spoilers, but there is a huge shake-up in how things are run and what the lessers themselves know about the Omega and how things work for them. It’s an interesting plot twist that I feel was needed with that group.

When it comes to the romance between Phury and Cormia, there isn’t much. He’s too in his head to take the steps needed to open up to Cormia. And she is so innocent from growing up so sheltered, she doesn’t know the right questions to ask. For the couples in the past, there has been an intensity to their connections, I didn’t feel that here. But I felt their connection nonetheless. It had an element of comfort to it that they both needed. Of course, that comfort would turn to flames that would then turn to guilt and feelings of inadequacy. It was a vicious circle. For those brief times when both Cormia and Phury let down their guard and relaxed, they were beautiful together.

This story was hard for me to get through. Partly because of all of the information given regarding the Lessening Society (which again, is needed and important, just not my favorite). Partly because reading about Phury’s struggles, his thought process, and internal demons, was very hard. Especially when I often felt as though I wanted the Brothers to do more. On one hand I understood that they’ve done so much already and they need him to do for himself, but I also felt they were missing so much of what he was struggling with by not paying attention to the root cause of his issues. There is a scene in the last chapter that had me in tears because I honestly thought, other than Cormia, Phury had lost the rest of his family due to his bad choices.

I am so deeply invested in this world, even the books that don’t go smoothly for me still keep me rapt. I want to know what will happen next. I’m always left wanting to jump into the next book. 
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booklovinmamas's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I finished reading Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward for the 3rd time since I’m rereading the series. I read this book for the first time in 2009 while still serving in the US Navy. Thanks to a Navy Spouse friend, she recommended the books, and I became obsessed with the series. I have some catching up to do since I fell behind, and I’m determined to finally be caught up, especially since J.R. Ward is still writing books in this series. This series is one of the main reasons I will never give up on Vampire Romance stories. I love the BDB characters and have missed the original BDB and how they found their fated mates. 

Storyline/My Thoughts: If there is one thing I’ve enjoyed while reading this series is reading all the different POVs when reading each book because J.R. Ward gives her readers sneak peeks into the lives of the BDB characters and the potential mates, they will end up with in the books. This was the case with Phury, and I will admit I wasn’t a big fan of him when reading his POV in the other books, but he did win me over after a while in Lover Enshrined. I learned more of his backstory and what he had to deal with in his past and now his future as the Primale of the Vampire species that he volunteered to do so V could be with his fated mate. The poor guy was still harboring what happened to his twin, Zsadist, and blamed himself for what his brother endured. He seemed to cope with the pain by doing drugs and caring for others before himself. 

He ends up going down a dark path in this book and losing a lot, and I felt for his character, but I could have dealt without the weird inner monologue. It was too much at times. It was bearable but, again, annoying. 

I liked the FMC, Cormia, especially when she was introduced in the previous book. She was chosen to be the Primale’s first mate, and how the old Directrix handled her was awful. I was thankful when Phury stepped up to save her. In the meantime, though, he doesn’t handle it well when he brings Cormia to his side; he pushes her away instead of taking her on and helping her adjust. This initially made me mad until J.R. Ward put his struggles out there and what he was enduring. I understood why there was so much back and forth between the MCs, and the Primale needed help before he could have his HEA. 

Phury and Cormia were meant to meet one another when they did, and they had to learn along the way before having their HEA. If you expect this book to be an instant love between the characters, then it is not. This is a slow-burn romance where the MCs take a while to realize they have feelings for one another, especially with one pushing the other away. 

J.R. Ward does have other characters getting their POVs in this book, too. We get more of Rehvenge and his second-in-command Xhex. We also have storylines that involve John Matthew, Quinn, and Blay. I’m ready to continue rereading this series, and I’m glad I got a refresher on what is happening to all the other characters, not just the main characters. There is something that happens in this book that I had forgotten, and it pertains to the Lessening Society. It’s a big shocker, and I won’t spoil it for readers who haven’t read it. There’s also a character that comes back in this book, and it was a tear-jerking moment, and I had been waiting for this moment to happen.

Overall, this book gets 4.5 stars, and glad that finally, Phury got the help he needed and found the one person opposite of him that was the perfect match for him. 

Standalone/Part of Series: This is the sixth book in the BDB series and I recommend reading in order.

Steam/Spice: đŸŒ¶ đŸŒ¶Â 

Genre/SubGenre(s)/Trope(s)/Element(s): Romance | Paranormal Romance | Fated Mates | Slow Burn Romance | Vampire Romance | Virgin MMC 

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this to readers who love reading the Fated Mates trope in romance books and are still obsessed with Vampires in their books.

Favorite Quote(s): “Look, you didn’t fail me. Because you can’t fail at the impossible.”

“She silenced him with her mouth, then pulled back. “You can’t change what I think of you.”
He reached up and brushed her lower lip with his thumb.
“If you truly knew me, everything you believe would change.”
“Your heart would be the same. And that is what I love.” 

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pvbobrien's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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kaadee's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Ok let me start out with saying that I don’t like Phury. I don’t like Phury sososoososo much, he annoys me SO much. I hate his sob story. I mean, his concerns and emotions are valid it’s just annoying because I don’t care. The way he treated Cormia throughout a majority of the book just reinforced this for me. 
I don’t like his addiction plot. After 300+ years of living and NOW you’re gonna overdose? Dude. I feel like it’s just stupid and put together terribly. Not realistic. He would have tried something harder a LONG time ago if his whole “wizard” emotional war was the case.

I liked Cormia. In fact, she might be one of my favorite girl characters. I like how powerful she is even though her whole existence she’s told she couldn’t be. She’s different, in a good way. Exploring the world through her eyes was beautiful and I loved every second. Her relationship with Bella and John was adorable and I want MORE. She can have a better man than Phury any day but if we have to settle, sure. 

JOHN MATTHEWS ❀ Truly my favorite character. He’s so sweet and such a baby and I love him. I was so happy when he got Tohr back but upset for him because it wasn’t like he thought it was going to be. I’m always rooting for John, even if he’s wrong. Blay and Qhuinn are such good friends for him. What they did to lash was 100% justified. 

I liked Rehv’s POV. Excited for the next book. 

LASSITER? I CANT WAIT TO KNOW MORE.
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mariathelibrarian's review

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dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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psydneigh's review

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was my least favorite so far. I think it could’ve used some heavy editing. 
1. Some of the word choices were off. I get trying to make Mr.D sound more southern but it was done incorrectly. Y’all means you all. No southern person says y’all when referring to one person. It took me out of it a lot.
2. Overall plot hole, but the Brothers’ parents aren’t Chosen. Unless they were Chosen but then came over to fill the role of mate? Idk seems inconsistent to begin with.
3. This whole book was miscommunication. No romance, just fake tension. Im getting tired of how heavily that trope appears in these books.
4. A lot of questions didnt have punctuation. Ex) Phury talking to the Scribe Virgin and he asked a couple of questions, but they were ended in periods. Just because you dont use a question mark does not mean its not a question. It just makes it read weird.

Im still continuing the series because I really like the characters and want to see what happens, but this one wasn’t it for me.
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the_disreputable_dog's review

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think this might be my favorite of the books so far. Fury went through so much adversity, I LOVE the parts with John Michael, I'm intrigued by Blay and Qhuinn, I also am starting to actually really like Revhenge (definitely did not like him to begin with, what with that request he put in to the king), and I think Lash is pretty smart, and I like him a little as well. I'm really liking this series and cannot wait to dive into the next one.
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