I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Lover Eternal
by
J.R. Ward
paranormal romance in Paperback edition that was published by Signet on March 7, 2006 and has 441 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Dark Lover, Lover Awakened, Covet, Crave, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound, Lover Enshrined, Lover Avenged, Lover Mine, Lover Unleashed, Envy, An Irresistible Bachelor, Leaping Hearts, His Comfort and Joy, Lover Reborn, Rapture, Lover at Last, Possession, The King, The Shadows, The Bourbon Kings, Blood Kiss, The Beast, Blood Vow, The Chosen, Blood Fury, “Dearest Ivie”, The Thief, "The Reception", "The Rehearsal Dinner", Consumed, The Savior, Blood Truth, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, A Warm Heart in Winter, Claimed, The Wolf
Second in the paranormal Black Dagger Brotherhood series, the title hones in on one point in the story.
My Take
I loved this story! Keep a few tissues handy…lord knows, I kept crying throughout. It was such a real reaction on Mary’s part and the threats to her just got me all involved.
Ward does a lovely job with the dialog amongst the warriors — it has a contemporary street feel to it while her so-very descriptive text will build an incredible picture for you of both groups and the regular world they take on.
The main theme through the series so far is of vampires who remain hidden from humans and, while they do need blood to survive, they can only do so by feeding from a vampire of the opposite sex. Well, okay, yes, they can feed on humans but it isn’t a sustaining feed. Nor are vampires made, they are born and don’t “change” into a true vampire until they turn 25.
I do find the male characters’ names ridiculous, I mean, “Rehvenge”?? Although, I will say they live up to their names. Otherwise, I love both their sides: the hardened, extremely fit physiques with weapons and martial arts expertise as well as the softer side they all have. Yeah, they all do the guy thing and don’t like to let out their feelings but as soon as a woman is involved that softer side is all out there. A truly lovely fantasy!
Ward has given each of the brothers a distinct personality with all the insulting camaraderie in between as well as providing the polar opposite, the nastiness, to the members of the Lessening. I’m curious to see how their issues get resolved as the series goes on.
Rhage is obsessed with being near her but has some emotional issues which prevent complete commitment which only fuels Mary’s belief that his wanting her is a joke he won’t let her in on.
As irritating as Mary and Rhage’s miscommunications are, I found them very believable. I wonder how much easier real personal communications would be if we could get a transcript of them enabling us to gain some perspective?
Ward is setting up characters for future stories: John Matthews’ absorption into the group as well as Bella’s fascination with Zsadist. It should be interesting.
The Story
A young man was found who is believed to be one of them, a vampire. Deaf, his human translator must accompany him to the interview at Black Dagger Brotherhood headquarters.
And where Rhage encounters Mary. Something about her pushes all of Rhage’s buttons, and he will do anything to be near her while Mary is constantly pushing this overwhelmingly gorgeous hunk of man flesh away because there is just no way he could possibly be interested in bland, boring her.
The Characters
A social worker knowing ASL, Mary Luce is a human suffering from her own curse.
Rhage, a.k.a., “Hollywood” for how incredibly beautiful he is, is cursed with turning into a dragon.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood is…
…an elite warrior society within the vampire culture, and the vampires’ main defense against the lessers. They live on an estate that can be easily defended as they live their lives training, patrolling, and protecting. Wrath is the Blind King mated to Beth (Dark Lover, 1), Darius’ half-human, half-vampire daughter; Phury and Zsadist are twins; Vishous is cursed with foresight and a power hand; and, Tohrment is the only other vampire who is happily married to Wellsie.
John Matthew is a homeless, deaf young man who requires a translator.
The Lessening Society is…
…the vampires’ main enemy. A group of men, lessers, who give up their souls to the Omega in return for material support as they hunt down the vampires. They include Mr. X, Mr. O, and Mr. E. I guess Ward got tired of coming up with interesting names. It does provide their psychopathic little group with a very cold, clinical feel.
Civilians are how the Brotherhood refers to vampires who are not part of their warrior group.
The Cover
Dark with an abstract feel. I wish they had made a bigger deal of the dragon tattoo.
