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ceena's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read:
Still loving it??? I didn't see this coming.
Honestly, I really was hoping for more Vishous and Butch scenes... weirdly almost mlm and it was hurting that it wouldn't work out, but at the same time I do like Butch & Marissa soooo conflicted feelings.
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The BDB series is like my guilty pleasure. TO be able to read these books all day I would give up ice cream and chocolate because it fulfills that sweet tooth of mine. Not to say this book is entirely sweet. I have moments of joy and other moments where I start tearing up...even though I'm in public *glad no one noticed* While this isn't my favorite book so far it still is one of the best most intriguing ones I've read. (So far my favorite brother is Rhage so it's hard to top him ^_^ sorry Butch)
Still loving it??? I didn't see this coming.
Honestly, I really was hoping for more Vishous and Butch scenes... weirdly almost mlm and it was hurting that it wouldn't work out, but at the same time I do like Butch & Marissa soooo conflicted feelings.
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The BDB series is like my guilty pleasure. TO be able to read these books all day I would give up ice cream and chocolate because it fulfills that sweet tooth of mine. Not to say this book is entirely sweet. I have moments of joy and other moments where I start tearing up...even though I'm in public *glad no one noticed* While this isn't my favorite book so far it still is one of the best most intriguing ones I've read. (So far my favorite brother is Rhage so it's hard to top him ^_^ sorry Butch)
shellballenger's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Type of read: Commuter Read.
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: I was wondering how Ward was going to make this one make sense, but they did. The way that Ward approached Butch and his relationship with the brotherhood, Marissa, and the general vampire community (i.e. a world where he is essentially always on the out because he's human) does the series justice. Butch's progression to becoming a vampire doesn't feel like a cop-out, an easy write, or Ward just satisfying what we all want (Butch and Marissa together forever, duh). It actually makes sense with his backstory and how he falls into the vampire world. Plus I'm so happy it's not just a bite on the neck and then done.
One thing that continually amazes me throughout this series is Ward's ability to interconnect the characters and their storylines, building from one book to another. Sure, 'Lover Revealed' is primarily about Butch and Marissa, but we also learn more about John, Vi, Rehv, and the interworkings of the vampire world as a whole (governing, rules, traditions, etc.). I also thoroughly enjoy seeing what could be the beginning of the next generation of brothers with John and his training class.
Also, I just have to say it, the Scribe Virgin walked so the Suriel could run. 😂
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 Revealed' includes themes of death; dying; consensual sexual activity; consensual first time sexual activity; violence; torture; rape; murder; and character recollections of physical abuse.
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: I was wondering how Ward was going to make this one make sense, but they did. The way that Ward approached Butch and his relationship with the brotherhood, Marissa, and the general vampire community (i.e. a world where he is essentially always on the out because he's human) does the series justice.
One thing that continually amazes me throughout this series is Ward's ability to interconnect the characters and their storylines, building from one book to another. Sure, 'Lover Revealed' is primarily about Butch and Marissa, but we also learn more about John, Vi, Rehv, and the interworkings of the vampire world as a whole (governing, rules, traditions, etc.).
Also, I just have to say it, the Scribe Virgin walked so the Suriel could run. 😂
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 Revealed' includes themes of death; dying; consensual sexual activity; consensual first time sexual activity; violence; torture; rape; murder; and character recollections of physical abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Rape
Minor: Child abuse
cega's review against another edition
4.0
If Vishous and Butch and Marissa do not get together in the next book I will jump off the roof
emleemay's review against another edition
2.0
I'm more than a little embarassed to say that it took four whole 500+ page books of this series to get me to see them for what they really are. It was mr sweet, troubled loner (Zsadist) that screwed with my head and had me hoping this series would blow my mind in a similar way to the Fever series (I know how surprised you must be seeing as I rarely mention Mac Lane, Barrons or Karen Marie Moning ¬_¬ ).
I'll just explain what I mean by the Zsadist thingy. So I read Dark Lover and really liked it, the novel had all the necessary components of good urban fantasy and paranormal romance: strong heroine, hot supernatural guy (even if he was called Wrath and liked to wear biker leathers) and just generally dark paranormal mystery goodness. So, naturally, I then read Lover Eternal and got a whole lot of the same... in exactly the same way... with a guy (Rhage) who's character was nothing but a pretty, blond version of Wrath. But, hey, Ward is a good writer and the series is so popular that I was blinded into thinking that either a) Lover Eternal is an excusable one-off, or b) The problem was my own for not 'getting' the awesomeness. And, of course, Ward held my attention with some slight hints at Zsadist's past. Now, this is what I mean about Zsadist screwing with my mind... he is the one character of the Brotherhood who is completely different, unique and interesting. I gave Lover Awakened 5 stars because of him and I rarely give 5 stars. I stand by it too, because I still think he is J.R.Ward's greatest achievement of this series.
So... my point? Zsadist threw me off-guard and gave me false hope, twice as much false hope as the unbelievably high ratings gave me. Books 1 + 2 = written well but practically the same plot, hot male, mystery story, etc, etc. Book 3 = blew my mind. Then *sigh* book 4 = written well but practically the same plot, hot male, mystery story, etc, etc. as the first two. Damn you, Ward, for making me read so far and keeping my hopes up. Damn you for managing to convince me that your novels were more than just carbon copies of one another (with the obvious exception of Lover Awakened).
Why are all your characters and storylines just clones of one another? You are obviously a talented writer, surely you could come up with something better? And, even more troubling a question, why the hell does everyone rave so much about this series? Hasn't something like number 9 just been released, god I couldn't imagine reading another 5 versions of the same book. Is it just me? Is this another Lord of the Rings scenario where I feel like I'm reading something different from everyone else? It's not as if I didn't want to like it, I really honestly did, but I couldn't - They. Are. All. The. Same.
I'll tell you what else seems to be the same: the romance story. All this stupid denial and obsession-at-first-sight (god, do I hate that!), why the hell can't two people actually build up a romance/love/relationship like they do in other books instead of having to take one look at each other and know it's meant to be - sorry, I'm not buying it.
I know I'm part of a ridculously small minority that doesn't like this series and I'm not blind to the many reasons why others might like it: hot men, smut, vamps in general... and so on. But I'm not taking it any further, I've had enough of this tiresome jumping from brother to brother and playing matchmaker, that isn't what I come to get out of urban fantasy. I'll leave my ratings for the others as they are because I can't be bothered editing the reviews to explain but I'm definitely done here.
I'll just explain what I mean by the Zsadist thingy. So I read Dark Lover and really liked it, the novel had all the necessary components of good urban fantasy and paranormal romance: strong heroine, hot supernatural guy (even if he was called Wrath and liked to wear biker leathers) and just generally dark paranormal mystery goodness. So, naturally, I then read Lover Eternal and got a whole lot of the same... in exactly the same way... with a guy (Rhage) who's character was nothing but a pretty, blond version of Wrath. But, hey, Ward is a good writer and the series is so popular that I was blinded into thinking that either a) Lover Eternal is an excusable one-off, or b) The problem was my own for not 'getting' the awesomeness. And, of course, Ward held my attention with some slight hints at Zsadist's past. Now, this is what I mean about Zsadist screwing with my mind... he is the one character of the Brotherhood who is completely different, unique and interesting. I gave Lover Awakened 5 stars because of him and I rarely give 5 stars. I stand by it too, because I still think he is J.R.Ward's greatest achievement of this series.
So... my point? Zsadist threw me off-guard and gave me false hope, twice as much false hope as the unbelievably high ratings gave me. Books 1 + 2 = written well but practically the same plot, hot male, mystery story, etc, etc. Book 3 = blew my mind. Then *sigh* book 4 = written well but practically the same plot, hot male, mystery story, etc, etc. as the first two. Damn you, Ward, for making me read so far and keeping my hopes up. Damn you for managing to convince me that your novels were more than just carbon copies of one another (with the obvious exception of Lover Awakened).
Why are all your characters and storylines just clones of one another? You are obviously a talented writer, surely you could come up with something better? And, even more troubling a question, why the hell does everyone rave so much about this series? Hasn't something like number 9 just been released, god I couldn't imagine reading another 5 versions of the same book. Is it just me? Is this another Lord of the Rings scenario where I feel like I'm reading something different from everyone else? It's not as if I didn't want to like it, I really honestly did, but I couldn't - They. Are. All. The. Same.
I'll tell you what else seems to be the same: the romance story. All this stupid denial and obsession-at-first-sight (god, do I hate that!), why the hell can't two people actually build up a romance/love/relationship like they do in other books instead of having to take one look at each other and know it's meant to be - sorry, I'm not buying it.
I know I'm part of a ridculously small minority that doesn't like this series and I'm not blind to the many reasons why others might like it: hot men, smut, vamps in general... and so on. But I'm not taking it any further, I've had enough of this tiresome jumping from brother to brother and playing matchmaker, that isn't what I come to get out of urban fantasy. I'll leave my ratings for the others as they are because I can't be bothered editing the reviews to explain but I'm definitely done here.
bucksford's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
pstlaurent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kizsia's review against another edition
4.0
Ooh marissa annoyed me alot here loo but that twist at the end..oh my