Review: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #7)

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
Published April 28th 2009 by NAL Hardcover
527 pages
Hardcover $16.30 (Amazon.com)
Rating:

Summary

J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels have introduced readers to a "different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing" (All About Romance)world. Now, as the vampire warriors defend their race against their slayers, one male's loyalty to the Brotherhood will be tested-and his dangerous mixed blood revealed...

Caldwell, New York, has long been the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It's also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and owner of a notorious night club that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he's approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King and leader of the Brotherhood.

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Overall, it was a pretty interesting book. There were a few times when I wished the story would hurry and get to a point when everything just "moved". It took me quite a long time to finish book actually because of that. I couldn't read long enough to find where I felt like I had to read more. Just like all of her other books, the chapters alternate character's POVs which in some cases is awesome and in others just frustrated me. You're so wrapped up in these two specific characters and suddenly you finish the chapter and have to wait a couple more chapters before you could get back to them again. But, one thing's for sure, Ward really loves all of her characters.

What I would have liked to see more of, were the lessers. I mean, each chapter dedicated to them were extremely short compared to the other characters - not that I'm complaining - I just thought it was sort of weird. It seemed to me that they had taken a back seat in this novel, making way for the numerous couples and sympaths.

The love story between Rehv and Ehlena, although not my favorite (that title belongs to Butch and Marissa!), was touching and definitely in my top five. The obstacles the two had to overcome were gritty and just plain angsty, and probably why they were so awesome. I can't wait to read more of them in the future.

As well as our main couple, I got to see more of Beth and Wrath in this book as well, which was a nice surprise. There's also the developing relationship between Xhex and John Matthews which starts off rough for obvious reasons.

Lover Avenged was a great read and chapter to the Brotherhood series. J.R. Ward's done it again,drawing you in with yet another one of her mindblowingly amazing books. Don't skip out on this one.