Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward Pages: 434
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Also in this series: Lover Eternal, Lover Unbound, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, A Warm Heart in Winter, Lover Unveiled, Lover Arisen
Also by this author: Lover Eternal, Lover Unbound, Consumed, Blood Truth, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, The Jackal, A Warm Heart in Winter, Lover Unveiled, Claimed, The Wolf, Lover Arisen
Goodreads
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Pages: 455 
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Also in this series: Lover Eternal, Lover Unbound, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, A Warm Heart in Winter, Lover Unveiled, Lover Arisen
Also by this author: Lover Eternal, Lover Unbound, Consumed, Blood Truth, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, The Jackal, A Warm Heart in Winter, Lover Unveiled, Claimed, The Wolf, Lover Arisen
Goodreads
Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world—to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...
Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him...
The Black Dagger Brotherhood
Lover Awakened
J.R. Ward
So the Black Dagger Brotherhood has sucked me in again! I totally did not think Zsadist was redeemable. I mean, talk about your anti-heroes! I liked Bella in the previous book. I didn’t think I would LOVE both of them so much. Z’s backstory is so, so sad. His character growth throughout the book is amazing. It doesn’t happen so fast that it seems unreal, and it isn’t a total transformation either. He will never change what happened to him and how it affected who he is, but he did grow emotionally and is handling things better.
I enjoyed the side story with who Bella’s brother is as well. Very interesting and I am looking forward to more about him for sure!
This is a story filled with death, despair, revenge, redemption and more. Its a great example of a dynamic character and I can’t wait to see the growth Z makes in future books as he continues to move forward with life!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: I did cry a bit for Z
- Trope: Fated Mates, Vampires
- Triggers: rape is described a few times
- Series/Standalone: Series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Lover Revealed
J.R. Ward
So I have just been gobbling up the Black Dagger Brotherhood books! Lover awakened was not as good as the previous books in my opinion, but still an enjoyable continuation of the series.
I adore Marissa as a character. She is so sheltered that its sad, and she has been rejected very publicly. Even though she and Wrath are friends, her being cast aside as his Shellan was a blow to her standing in society. She didn’t care much about that, but she was upset that she felt no one would ever treat her well. People shunned her and she was so lonely. I wanted to hug her! Havers, her brother, is a douche canoe. He is continuing his streak of douchey behavior.
I have wanted to learn more about Butch since book 1. I wanted to figure out how he would really fit into the fold, you know? So, this book gives you his heartbreaking backstory as well as where his future lies. I don’t want to say much (spoilers!) but its very, very interesting!
While I enjoyed this book, I found it easier to put down that the previous books. I didn’t have as much trouble walking away when real life called. I am not sure exactly what it was but I think it had to do with the constant back and forth between Butch and Marissa. Will they get together? Will they stay together? Its like a pendulum swinging back and forth wildly throughout the entire book. You don’t even really know for sure until 99% into the book.
Oh, and Mr. X is back…
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: No
- Trope: fated mates, vampires
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Books by authors like…
Nalini Singh, Kressley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jeaniene Frost…then you will probably like Lover Awakened and Lover Revealed!
That”s awesome that this series has hooked you in again, Samantha! I tried the first few books and liked them but gave up because the series is so long. I do have a very complicated relationship with antiheroes, but I’m also always drawn to them. I hope this series continues to go strong for you!
Great reviews!
Yes, it is a crazy long series! I just finished book 5 and was less thrilled with it.
My thoughts were very similar to yours for Lover Revealed. It wasn’t until the end of Butch’s story that I was able to tell if I liked the story as a whole or not. I didn’t think that I would like Zadist’s story because of the potential love triangle with his twin but Lover Awakened actually turned out to be a favorite of mine out of the series.
Yeah, with Butch and Marissa I was on the fence like the whole time. And I was shocked at how much I loved Z and Bella!
Ohh Z, my sweet sweet Z, it’s a tie between Z and Wrath tbh, they’re both my favorite and now I have another favorite one but I won’t spoil it for you. I’m obsessed with this series so I’m a bit biased but oh well. I hope you enjoy the rest!
Oh another favorite character!! Hopefully its not V. I just finished his book and wasn’t a fan…