Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

5 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Rape

Minor: Child abuse

mk_meow's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense

4.0

3🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Vomit, Dementia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

mrs_gale's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.75

Butch's story was more detailed and complex than I expected. Loved it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, and Dementia

pvbobrien's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Dementia

the_disreputable_dog's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

I'm rating 3.75, because the book was pretty good, but it did bug me how innocent and virginal Marissa is - physically doesn't know her own literal body‽ Are you joking? I loved Butch though, right along with Vishous, and am disappointed they didn't get together. I went ahead and looked at the spoilers and V doesn't even get a guy, he's suddenly fucking pencil straight after this book from the sounds of things. And that scene during the transformation ceremony and all! I'm glad we didn't get a kill your gays moment, but we almost did, and did we not get one just because Butch, V, and Marissa are not gonna become a thruple? Also, I liked the way that Ward included info about Butch's background for the first time, and the plot with the Omega and the Lessers is interesting. I just feel like there's so much neglected potential with Vishous, and that brought the rating down an entire star. It's a really strong pairing, and I actually think the strength of V+Butch, combined with the fact that Marissa had absolutely no clue about it, detracted from the story. If Marissa had known and been fighting for Butch, or if they had become a trio, or if Butch and Marissa realised they weren't a good fit and Butch got with V, that all would've been done a little better, and probably got a 4.5 or higher star rating out of me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Abandonment, War, and Classism

Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Pregnancy, and Alcohol