Lover Unleashed: Number 9 in series (Black Dagger Brotherhood) [Paperback]

I don't understand how any reviewer could give this book 1 star, considering 'Lover Unbound' and 'Lover Enshrined' were so disappointing...

Anyhoo... at the risk of repeating the comments others have written, I too feel this is less book is less about Payne and Manny and more about V tying up his loose ends. Absolutely did it for me in that respect. His relationship with Butch has gone up another level because of the way Butch helped him through a particularly rough situation. It totally surprised me, though I think this is what was needed for HIS book. I can't punish J R for including it though because, in my eyes, the fact that she's done it so well, and tied it into how he helps Payne and Manny, redeems her.

I didn't realise how claustrophobic it was until mid-way - but I didn't feel restricted or constricted in any way. Because of the way it's been written, I found myself not missing the rest of the Brothers and welcomed them when they did arrive. It just worked, somehow. Didn't need all that 'interference'. I get that. There's only a passing mention of the other females in the mansion, but that's just as it should be, and they only 'appeared' when absolutely necessary. I really love the way this woman writes. No need to keep reminding us who's who, which gets right up my nose...! And there's no mention at all of Lassiter, the Angel-type creature who saved Tohr.

I found the Blay/Qhuinn situation suitably frustrating :-). They're both in love with each other - obvious from Lover Mine but, Saxon, Qhuinn's cousin is Blay's love interest and is content to 'have whatever 'love' Blay gives him'. So sad. I really wanted something of a revalation to occur so that Qhuinn and Blay could have their own HEA. But, again, J R has left me hanging - and looking forward to their story, although it looks as if the HEA won't be what I'm hoping for but, who knows with J R? And, of course, there are the new characters, the bastards, led by Xcor, that hava appeared from nowhere. And again, it's worked.

I kinda predicted the ending halfway through the book because of some things mentioned in a couple of the other books (won't say which, 'cos I'll spoil it for you), but it was nice, as the reader, getting there.

I do love the Payne/Manny story. I did well up a little when he thought he was going to lose her - forever this time. And, yes I can understand the previous reviewer's thoughts on love at first sight but, hey, it's a fantasy after all. Suspend our disbelief and all that? And the whole thing takes place over the course of around a week, I think. What they feel for each other is typical of the genre, so it's all good. The sex scenes were great and I always love the way J R gets into the heart and minds of the men. Such a turn-on for women readers.

One thing that did puzzle me though, was that, at the end of V's book, we're introduced to Payne and when her mother, the Scribe Virgin, asks how she is, she replies with a "F*** you!" So we're left thinking she's going to be a nightmare for V and the rest of the Brotherhood. Now, by the time we get to the 'Avenged' and 'Mine' books, she's sparring with the King on a regular basis and she's a very serene-type person, who doesn't swear. When she escapes to earth, she's very different to what we think she's going to be. That's the only thing that puzzled me, otherwise, a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next installment. You go J R!

I have just finished reading this and all of the reviews so far and can say that I can see where some of the negative points have come from within the reviews and I agree with most of them although I still enjoyed this book and I am still a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I think this is going to be one of those books where there are going to be mixed feelings and reviews about it.

I agree that it was very hard to try and connect with Payne and Manny's characters as they didn't have the book solely to themselves but I can see why J.R. Ward has felt she needed to re-visit Vishous' and Jane's relationship and why she included it in this book what with it being about his twin sister and her character not having had a major role in any of the other books so far other than to be Wrath's sparring partner. I have a suspicion that this book has been used as a sort of filler and a lead into maybe some of the new character's stories in the future and I think we will see if this is true or not in the next couple of books. I think Xcor and his band are probably going to end up with their own stories and I for one hope that this is the case and look forward to reading them. I also think the love triangle between Qhuinn, Blay and Layla could possibly be a really good story if and when JR decides to write it and if so I hope that they are given their own book for it.

I personally still really enjoyed reading this book, it isn't my favourite of the series so far (Zsadist's story Lover Awakened is) but I am certainly going to stick in there as a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I eagerly await the next instalment.

If you are new to the Black Dagger Brotherhood books then please don't let any negative reviews put you off as the series is still fantastic as you will note the majority of reviewers have also agreed, it just seems that this book wasn't for everyone this time. I would also suggest you read them in order as otherwise the series won't make sense and it will just get confusing for you, I have put the reading order and links below and this is obviously the latest in the series at present.

1. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
2. Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood) (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
3. Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
4. Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood) (Black Dagger Brotherhood) (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
5. Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
6. Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood) (Black Dagger Brotherhood): Black Dagger Brotherhood, Volume 6 (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
7. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
8. Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series)
9. Lover Unleashed

This book is advertised as a story about Payne, twin of vishous who after being imprisoned in tne sanctuary by their mother frees herself and comes over to our side.

Dont get me wrong, Payne does feature in the story but seems to take a back seat to Vischous who absolutely dominates this book throughout.

I wish that J.R had actually told Vishous's side of this story in a separate book as i felt that everything else faded into the background compared to V and his violence issues, which we all knew about anyway and i really dont feel that this time it added anything to the storyline, there was much more i was interested in reading about.

I like many other reviewers was not entirely convinced with the relationship between Dr Manuel Manello and Payne because it seemed to of been rushed. The whole story takes place over the course of what i can gather is about 3 or 4 days give or take, and i dont care whether your a vampire or not, nobody falls in eternal love that quickly. However the introduction and mating of this pair is vitally important to the story as later on in the book a revelation is bought to light that makes Manny a member of the "gang".

Qhuinn also has quite a lot of face time this time around and i was pleasantly surprised by that, i love Qhuinn as a character, he is constantly conflicted about his feelings for Blaylock, torn between being "gay" but wanting a future with a woman, and this book seems to tell a little bit of his transformation into a new possibly lead character, in fact the story is told in such a way that you imagine there to be an entire book about Qhuinn later on in the series.

We are introduced to a boat load of new characters in this book:

Detective Thomas DelVeccio, who is hiding a rather large secret, he is the son of a serial killer, is lethal and calm, and im not entirely convinced he is as straight as they come, however his introduction was on purpose, he plays a very heavy leading role in the next fallen angels book Envy.

The alternate brotherhood, aka the Band of Bastards consisting of:

Xcor - supposed other son of the bloodletter who has his own army comprising of Throe, Zypher, and 3 others that are not mentioned by name.

I am particularly intrigued as to where this storyline of the band of bastards goes, it has opened up the series to an open ended kind of thing and J.R. her self has said that as long as the readers want more she will keep writing. I would love to have entire books on the band of bastards, i imagine them to be perfectly vile, extremely violent and very highly sexed if the one scene about them engaging in sex in this book is anything to go by then wow they will make fascinating reading.

I wont say anything else as i dont wish to give the entire story away.

I will say that i loved it, even all the kind of negatives i listed at the start, this series rocks, the way it is written never fails to impress me, it is full of violence , blood and very graphic hot sex and that's why i love it.

A great addition to the series.