Review: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened

by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood #3



Jesus, I hated Zsadist before this book. I thought of him as a ruthless killer, and he is. But there is another side of him that is revealed- awakened even- in this book. With Bella, Zsadist's tortured soul is exposed. You see a much darker side of him that is painful and I feel ashamed to say that I am captivated by him. Knowing him, that is the last thing he would want. Zsadist has no patience for those who show sympathy or pity him. And I respect him more for that.

This is one of the more darker books of the series. It's content is brooding and involves a lot of self-loathing, from a male who has been tortured and violated in inhumane ways. We also see alot of Phury's story as well, and he becomes less the perfect male, but also someone with weaknesses and habits of his own. Damn, the thing he goes through for his brother... I can't even imagine his pain.

As well as the main story there are also shocking developmets in the story that left me gobsmacked...I still cannot believe it. What is great about these books is that as well as developing the main characters in the books, is that she starts building up other characters who will receive books in the future. John Matthew was in this book often and his story is turning as tragic in some ways as Z's.

Ward does an amazing job fitting happiness and sorrow and pain all together to create a delicious mix that is consumed by all. This series is to die for.

Favourite Quote:

"I...I can't get clean. I don't want you to get dirty, too." He lifted his wrist and blood oozed down from his forearm. "See? Look at the dirt. It's all over me. Inside of me."

As she carefully dried off his ragged flesh, she said, "You are clean."

"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm really not." His voice started to rise, a terrible momentum growing "I'm filthy. I am so very dirty. I am dirty, dirty..." Now he babbled, the words running together, the volume lifting until hysteria pinged off the tiles and filled the bathroom. "Can you see the dirt? I see it everywhere. It coats me. It seals me in..."