Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant third book in the series, 25 Nov 2006
I loved this book. I very much enjoyed the two previous novels, "Dark Lover" and "Lover Eternal" and this book was even better. I've just finished it having spent my entire Saturday afternoon glued to it. And, embarrassingly to admit, I'm wiping away a few tears that I shed whilst reading it.
This book follows the story of Zsadist, the scarred and broken member of the Brotherhood of vampires. We learned a little about him in the previous two books - he's the scary one who may or may not kill his lovers and can't bear anyone to touch him. At the end of the last book, "Lover Eternal", Bella the female vampire was kidnapped and Zsadist discovered he had an obsession with her - trying to find her.
This book starts six weeks after those events - Zsadist is still looking for Bella although pretty much everyone thinks she's dead. Mr O, the Fore-Lesser (head of the vampire slayers) is instead holding her hostage and playing mind games with her. When another vampire held hostage escapes, the Brotherhood come to rescue Bella and Zsadist takes her home to his room. And there starts his troubles.
I didn't really understand the character of Zsadist in the previous books - but in this story we learn about him and Bella through their interaction. What's so great about the story is that it all makes sense, his behaviour is a result of the terrible experiences he had as a blood slave which are given to us as back story. We also learn more about his twin, Phury, how he lost his leg (although not why he's celibate). Bella finds herself attracted to Zsadist but it's almost impossible for her to get through to him because of his huge issues with touch and with himself and his body. The chapters where he learns to tolerate her presence and her touch are brilliantly written, as are the reactions of the other Brothers to their most dangerous comrade's behaviour.
We also learn more about John, the mute young lad who is approaching his transition to Brother and some of his past history too. J R Ward has peppered her stories with flawed characters, people who have experienced awful events which have shaped them into the people that they are which is not always all good.
The Lessening Society continues to rumble on in the background of this book with Mr O and Mr X and the Omega. Those chapters are short and the actual fights between the two sides aren't particularly detailed in this book, but Mr O's character is becoming more fixed.
There are some pretty sad parts to this book and events that happen appear to be setting up for subsequent novels. But overall it was an exhilarating read - the thought that a ruined man can be redeemed; and it's not just a cheesy "saved by the love of a good woman", it's that he finds his equilibrium through a number of different events and with a group of different people around him.
It's a truly excellent book and I highly recommend it to all who like vampire fiction of a more earthy kind!
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now my Favourite of the genre., 9 Oct 2006
Vampire romances have always been my number one choice for reading material, particularly anything by Laurell K Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Angela Knight. I have now read all three of J R Wards BlackDagger Brotherhood series up to and including Lover Awakened. Although all three where fantastic reads, it has to be said that Zsadists story has been the best so far, it has even become my favourite of the genre. Ward creates an edgy, modern take on the Vampire story, breathing new life into what was in danger of becoming a boring and repetetive subject. She has created an ultra masculine, passionate, yet tortured character in Zsadist, he is a little darker than most Vampire anti heros, which to me made a refreshing change (i hate it when they get too mushy too quickly).Although the sex scenes are plentiful and passionate, they are well written, and very steamy. The story is firmly rooted in the 21st century, so if historical romances are your favourite this may not appeal quite as much, although having said that i can't imagine anyone not liking this book. Give the whole series a try i guarantee you won't be dissapointed.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Series Dares To Feel, 4 Oct 2006
Book one, "Dark Lover", is released and I am intrigued. Book two, "Lover Beware", releases and I am breathless. But "Lover Awakened"...I am beyond stunned. J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood will always be a coveted group of books on my shelf. Her weaving of each brother's story is flawless. From the young vampire trainees to the astounding leading male, readers will feel every emotion, every struggle that each character faces.
Zsadist harbors, like all the brothers, a dark and tortured soul. In previous books he is touted as a vile man, accused of various crimes and potential ones. What lingers beneath the surface is a lost soul yearning for one that makes him complete--Zsadist just doesn't know it yet. Awakened begins where the previous installment left off, with the search for the missing Bella, a member of the glymera, their aristocracy. Zsadist feels a connection to the beautiful woman and his body is trying to tell him what his heart wants to deny. When he manages to extricate her from their enemies, the Lessers, he vows to destroy the one that took her. How he will manage to do this and keep the growing arousal she causes at bay, he isn't quite sure. And he will have to figure out if what he is fighting are indeed his body's needs or his heart's.
Zsadist's background--that of a blood slave--comes slamming to the forefront in "Lover Awakened". Since his release hundreds of years ago, he hasn't exactly been living life. Just as it seems he's almost become comfortable with the angst and tortured feelings, Bella enters and stirs his buried heart like no other has ever been able to--not even his real brother Phury. Their attraction is the most pulse pounding of the series to date and that's putting it mildly. Wrap that heart-wrenching plot around the evolving storylines of Butch, the human cop turned friend, Vishous, and now Bella's brother, Revhenge, and "Lover Awakened" easily becomes my favorite so far.
My few problems with the series are ones that will most likely be solved with later installments. The Lessening Society is still a very mild player, though the one called O was featured much more prominently than any of them had been before. I am still wondering though what in the world the two groups, or rather, their deities (Scribe Virgin for the vamps, The Omega for the lesser) have against one another. The lessers have great potential to be terrifying enemies, yet their role is significantly less than that of the Brothers. Thank goodness the Brothers and their females are so vivid. Despite the continued questions, it's an amazing entry into the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Stay tuned for what's in store for Butch as Vishous steps up his honorary membership into the group.
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