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shellballenger's review against another edition
What made me pick it up: I stumbled across the Black Dagger Brotherhood in early 2024 with Darius (Book 0) and I got sucked into this crazy, cracked-out, sexy, throwback-feeling, world of vampires fighting something more evil than themselves.
Overall rating: Vishous...oh you dark, broken, beautiful man. I feel like 'Lover Unbound' was one of the first in the series where Ward played with a new storyline dynamic. We had flashbacks, multiple character POVs, and more of a focus on the community (and ultimately the world that Ward has created) as a whole, rather than just one of the brothers. There are definitely some jaw-dropping moments - I, for one, was not expecting the big twist - and times when you are truly sucked into the book and what's happening with these characters. As I mentioned, 'Lover Unbound' continues to build the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the many characters within. We get more info on John
I know I've said it before in previous reviews for this series, but I feel like I just have to say it again, this is just a good escape read. You don't have to think too much about it, you don't have to try and keep things straight (Ward does a great job dropping little reminders at the beginning of each book and throughout so you keep the characters and their traits straight), and you can just dive into a (slightly dated) world of sexy vampire warriors. I'm here for it.
Reader's Note: 'Lover Unbound' includes themes of death; dying; consensual sexual activity; consensual BDSM sexual activity with sub/dom relationships; violence; kidnapping; torture; murder; sexual assault; and character recollections of physical and sexual abuse. There's also a lot of LGBTQIA+ conversation within 'Lover Unbound,
Moderate: Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
allingoodtime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
littlebit2991's review
3.5
Graphic: Rape and Torture
krazyk8y's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual assault
the_disreputable_dog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I will say though, I was extremely unhappy with the way that the relationship between Butch and V was handled. I felt that it would have been a good match, and so as a reader it did feel somewhat like they were breaking up even though they never really got together. I did not like how Butch basically said 'no homo' when talking to V about it. I found it to be pretty ignorant, and I almost quit reading at that point. It's just such a backwards way to handle that issue. I remember being a kid at the time that would have been acceptable, and thinking then how bad it was, and it still is bad now, and people finally seem to understand that, but it's still a disappointment to see the equivalent to 'no homo' reflected in this book. I know that was the way that some men were handling homosexuality, but it didn't make it a good thing then, and it's still not a good thing. I had higher hopes for their pair than that.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Biphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Medical content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail