[Rezension] The King

English Hardcover

English Paperback

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‚The King‘ by J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood #12/
Black Dagger #23 & #24
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Inhaltsangabe:
Long live the King…
After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle–with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything–and everyone–at risk.
Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response–or the distance it creates between them.
The question is, will true love win out… or tortured legacy take over?
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Es war für mich schon lange nicht mehr so schwierig eine Rezension zu einem Black Dagger Buch zu schreiben. Aber dieses hier macht es mir wirklich, wirklich schwer. Ich wollte das Buch lieben, als ich es bereits im Oktober vorbestellt habe. Ich wollte es lieben, als ich es bekommen und auf den Buddy Read gewartet habe. Aber wie ihr vermuten könnt, hat meine Vorfreude gelitten, als ich dann tatsächlich zum Lesen begonnen habe.
Ward hat sich nämlich aus dem gewohnten, sicheren Terrain begeben und ihre Geschichte anders aufgebaut, sie mit neuen Charakteren erzählt, die die anderen vermissen ließen. Obwohl ich gleich von Anfang an sagen kann, dass es im Vergleich zu anderen Büchern immer noch sehr gut ist, aber im Vergleich zu den andere Black Daggern Büchern, etwas schwächelt – aber das ist Jammern auf hohem Niveau. ^^

Aber zurück zum Anfang und der Handlung dieses Buches, die nicht einfach so in einem Satz zusammenzufassen ist. Da es anders als sonst nicht nur ein Hauptpärchen gab, rund um welches die Hintergrundgeschichte weiter gegangen ist, sondern gleich mehrere. Und das ist auch mein erster Kritikpunkt – dass es zu viele verschiedene Handelsstränge hatte und diese Perspektiven immer relativ kurz waren, sodass man immer wieder neu aus dem Lesefluss gerissen wurde.
Eigentlich dachte ich ja, dass durch den Titel Beth und Wrath erneut das Hauptpärchen sind, was sie auch irgendwie waren, aber neben ihnen haben auch andere oft im Buch ihren Geschichte erzählt, wie Trez, iAm, Selena, Xcor, Layla oder sogar Sola und Assail – die eigentlich gar nicht zu den Black Daggern gehören und da frage ich mich, warum sie so einen großen Stellenwert im Buch bekommen.

Dieser Teil hat viel weniger über den Krieg zwischen den Vampiren und den Lessern erzählt, sondern viel mehr über die Politik des Vampirreiches und den Intrigen gegen den König, über das Hin und Her mit der Glymera und den Band of Bastards, obwohl diese im Hintergrund geblieben sind.

Wodurch wir auch schon zu meinem zweiten Kritikpunkt gekommen wären – dass viel zu viele neue Charaktere im Vordergrund standen und bis auf Wrath und Beth fast keiner der anderen Bruder der Brotherhood eine Rolle gespielt hat. Die erste Hälfte sind sie glaube ich, gar nicht erwähnt wurden, erst später waren sie dann doch auch anwesend, wenn auch nur kurz und da merkt man wieder wie viel witziger, charmanter, echter und einfach besser das Buch wird… und das alles nur durch die Anwesenheit durch die anderen Brothers. Hach, ich liebe sie alle, egal wen von der Brotherhood! (naja, bis auf Phury *g*)

Was ich aber gut fand, war erneut die generelle Atmosphäre im Buch, die ähnlich wie immer einfach grandios war. Die Erotikpassagen waren wie immer auch gut, obwohl ich mir hier ebenfalls weniger verschiedene Charaktere gewünscht hätte. Und das Ende war auch wieder genau nach meinem Geschmack – gefühlvoll und total übertrieben kitschig, aber damit habe ich ja kein Problem, wie vielleicht andere. ^^

Besonders witzig fand ich ja die Szene mit Lassiter als Elvis – er ist einfach göttlich *lach*

Wie immer war das Buch für mich trotz aller Kritik ein Page-Turner an dem ich fast drei Tage nur durchgelesen habe und nichts andere machen konnte/ wollte. Ward hat einfach ein Talent dafür mit den Gefühlen ihrer Leser zu jonglieren und dafür liebe ich sie, genauso wie die Brüder. Und nun heißt es wieder ein Jahr auf den nächsten Teil warten … *heul*

SPOILER!!

Ich persönlich freue mich ja schon auf den nächsten Teil, in dem es – wie ihr vielleicht schon wisst – um die Shadows gehen wird. Ja genau, um Trez und iAm und ich finde die zwei ja ganz putzig, besonders iAm und seine Katzenliebe *lol* hach. Es hat gedauert bis sie mir ans Herz gewachsen sind, aber in diesem Teil haben sie es geschafft und ja, auf sie freue ich mich schon jetzt wieder sehr und ich denke, der nächste Teil könnte wieder die vollen Punkte erreichen, wenn alles klappt.^^

English Paperback Cover:
Mir gefällt wie immer das Cover vom Taschenbuch besser, auch, obwohl ich keine Ahnung habe, wer derjenige am Cover sein soll – vielleicht Assail?

All in all:
Ein erneut guter Teil aus Wards Feder, das ich nicht aus der Hand legen konnte und mich nicht unberührt ließ. Leider waren einige Dinge anders als gewohnt und obwohl ich generell für Veränderungen bin, hoffe ich, dass sie im nächsten Teil die Grundgeschichte wieder mehr den ursprünglichen Figuren widmet und sie mehr daran teilhaben lässt. Wir brauchen einfach das Geplänkel und den Witz, wenn Z, V, Rhage, Butch und die anderen zusammen kommen. Und wir haben noch lange nicht genug davon. *nein nein nein* -> Also hopp hopp Frau Ward, schreiben sie – schreiben sie schnell, damit das nächste Buch nicht so lange auf sich warten lässt.

Rating:
4 of 5 points (Great, great, great!)
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Quotes: (© Ward)

Wrath: „I’m not strong enough for this,“ he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever. Running her hands up his powerful back, she held him just as hard.
Beth: „But I am.“

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When he got quiet again, she assumed he was done talking. Instead, he spoke up one last time.
iAm: „I only have one other secret.“
Beth: „What’s that?“
iAm: „Don’t tell anyone . . . but I like that goddamn cat of yours.“
Tilting her head to the side, Beth smiled at the Shadow. „I have a feeling . . . he’s pretty fond of you, too.“

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Rhage raised his hand.: „Pastor Ass-hat, I have a question.“
„Yes, my son, you ARE going to hell.“ Lassiter made the sign of the cross and then looked around.

…

Serienreihenfolge:

# 1: J. R. Ward  – Nachtjagd & Blutopfer (Dark Lover) »»
# 2: J. R. Ward  – Ewige Liebe & Bruderkrieg (Lover Eternal) »»
# 3: J. R. Ward  – Mondspur &Dunkles Erwachen (Lover Awakened) »»
# 4: J. R. Ward  – Menschenkind & Vampirherz (Lover Revealed) »»
# 5: J. R. Ward  – Seelenjäger & Todesfluch (Lover Unbound) »»
# 6: J. R. Ward  – Blutlinien & Vampirträume (Lover Enshrined) »»
#6.5: J. R. Ward –BDB – An Insider’s Guide »»
# 7: J. R. Ward  – Racheengel & Blinder König (Lover Avagened) »»
# 8: J. R. Ward  – Vampirseele & Mondschwur (Lover Mine) »»
# 9: J. R. Ward  – Vampirschwur & Nachtsseele (Lover Unleashed) »»
#10: J. R. Ward – Liebesmond & Schattentraum (Lover Reborn) »»
#11: J.R. Ward – Seelenprinz & Sohn der Dunkelheit (Lover at Last) »»
#12: J. R. Ward – The King »»
#13: J.R. Ward – The Shadows
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copyright: jrward.com

About the author – J. R. Ward:
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.
(Source: jrward.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Rezension] Seelenprinz & Sohn der Dunkelheit (Lover at Last)

German Cover # 11.1

German Cover # 11.2

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‚Lover at Last‘by J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood #11/
Black Dagger #21 & #22
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Inhaltsangabe:
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.  (Source: Goodreads.com)

Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Ich bin so froh, dass Ward ihren Willen durchgesetzt und dieses tolle Buch geschrieben hat. Solange haben wir darauf warten müssen und jetzt endlich haben wir auch die Story von Qhuinn und Blay. Ich finde zwar Blay ganz okay, aber Qhuinn gehört einfach zu meinen Lieblingen in der Reihe (neben ein paar anderen ^^). Und er hat mir immer wieder das Herz gebrochen mit seiner Vergangenheit, seiner Familie und auch jetzt, wo er ein Jahr lang Blay mit Saxton zusehen musste. Besonders da er nun endlich weiß, was er will und was er fühlt – sicher ist es noch ein Prozess, auch in diesem Buch, aber endlich gesteht er sich seine Gefühle ein, anstatt sie zu verdrängen und zu ignorieren.
Schon alleine für den Mut und die Eier, die Ward bewiesen hat, dieses Buch zu schreiben, gibt es von mir einen Extrapunkt, denn das war nicht so einfach, wie man sich das vorstellen möchte. In einem Buchforum habe ich nämlich gehört, dass Ward sogar extra die Agentur gewechselt hat, um ihren Wunsch zu erfüllen diese homosexuelle Liebe zu schreiben, da es doch kein ganz konservatives Thema ist und einige damit noch immer ein Problem haben. Was ich persönlich wirklich schlimm finde in der heutigen Zeit. Aber Ward hat sich davon nicht einschüchtern lassen und das finde ich toll! Hut ab.

Die Schreibweise von Ward war wieder typisch ‚wardisch‘ mit eigenen Ausdrücken und vielen Schimpfwörtern, Flüchen und dem berühmte F*** Wort. Aber hier stört mich diese Ausdrucksweise nicht, weil es einfach zu den Brüdern der Black Dagger passt. Sie sind nun einmal harte Männer und drücken sich auch so aus, was sie nur noch echter und authentischer macht. Für mich wirken die Figuren gerade deswegen auch so lebendig und ich kann es mir nicht erklären, aber für mich fühlen sie sich einfach echt an … nicht wie starre Romanfiguren, sondern fast wie Freunde, die es wirklich irgendwo gibt. Und diesen Gedanken finde ich schön.

Im Gegensatz zu Lover Reborn, in dem sich die Handlung über ein ganzes Jahr zieht, passiert hier alles innerhalb weniger Tage und zwar im Zeitrahmen irgendwann im Winter. Leider ist mir nicht ganz klar, wann es spielt, ob es wirklich nach Lover Reborn spielt oder dazwischen. Eigentlich war auch gedacht, dass Qhuinn und Blays Geschichte nur eine kurze Novelle wird, so wie Bellas und Zs Babygeschichte, aber dann haben wir doch ein ganzes Buch erhalte. Worüber ich mich freue, aber trotzdem tut sich in der Hintergrundgeschichte nicht wirklich viel. Wie gesagt, der Zeitraum ist ziemlich kurz und auch die Lesser bleiben im Hintergrund, wie auch die Band of Bastards. Dieser Punkt, dass nicht viel passiert, außer der Liebegeschichte der beiden Hauptfiguren, die ihre Vergangenheit aufarbeiten und sich endlich zusammenraufen, Missverständnisse ausräumen und aussprechen, hätte mich eigentlich gestört.
Aber wieder habe ich in einer Forumsdiskussion gehört, dass angeblich bewusst wenig Hintergrundhandlung geschrieben wurde, damit Leute, die ein Problem mit homosexuellen Paaren haben, dieses Buch einfach auslassen können und erst wieder bei Buch # 12 einsteigen können, ohne, dass sie etwas Entscheidendes verpassen. Falls das stimmen sollte, kann ich erstens keinen Punkt dafür abziehen und zweitens, fände ich das wirklich traurig und schlimm in der aufgeklärten Zeit, in der wir leben. Oder zumindest gedacht haben, dass wir leben. Anscheinend sind doch noch nicht alle so tolerant, wie ich gedacht habe. Schade.

Statt der Handlung werden dafür aber neue Charaktere eingebaut, beziehungsweise bekommen andere Charaktere, die vorher immer nur kurz vorkamen mehr Raum und erzählen auch aus ihrer Sicht. Wie zb. Assail oder Trez und Xcor. Ich fand das jetzt leider nicht so toll, da dadurch vieles außerhalb der Black Dagger Grundformation spielt, aber durch eine Wendung am Ende, hoffe ich, dass der nächste Teil wieder vermehrt mit den alten Figuren (JM, V, Z, …) zu tun hat. Und auch die Wendung mit Qhuinns Bruder Luchas fand ich einfach genial und ich bin schon äußerst gespannt auf ihn!

Für mich war es auf alle Fälle wirklich ein sehr tolles Buch und ich konnte es nicht aus der Hand legen. Was mich selber wundert ist, obwohl ich keine Probleme mit homosexueller Liebe habe, waren die Szenen mit Qhuinn und Blay, die wieder sehr bildlich beschrieben wurden, doch sehr gut und sie haben mich vollkommen überzeugt. *wirklich hot hot* 😉
Und das Ende war natürlich wieder ganz nach meinem Geschmack. Einige fanden es vielleicht zu kitschig und ja, so derart schnulzig ist selbst Ward am Ende selten, aber ich war trotzdem glücklich damit und froh, dass es so gekommen ist. Geht es nicht darum, dass man nach dem Lesen mit einem Lächeln auf den Lippen das Buch beendet? Ich denke schon und das hat Ward voll und ganz wieder perfekt erfüllt! Danke!

PS: Falls ihr wissen wollte, welche Geschichte als nächstes kommt, dann darf ich euch bereits verraten, dass das Buch ‚The King‘ heißen und über Beth und Wrath handeln wird – wir gehen quasi zurück zum Ursprung! 🙂

English Cover:
Tolles Cover und ich weiß gar nicht welches mir besser gefällt, Hardcover oder Paperback. Ich selber habe das Taschenbuchformat von Pitakus und finde es genauso toll und passend, wie das Hardcover, welches auch sehr perfekt Qhuinn zeigt.

All in all:
Fast alle Erwartungen wurden gänzlich erfüllt und es war wieder eine tolle Reise in die Welt der Black Dagger, die ich immer wieder gerne besuche und nur schweren Herzes wieder verlasse. Nach wie vor ist sie eine meiner Lieblingsreihen und ich hoffe, sie geht noch lange weiter.

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points (soo awesome!)
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English Hardcover

English Paperback

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Quotes:

Qhuinn: „I think that’s Justin Bieber.“
Standing in front of a line up of Lay’s potato chips, Qhuinn looked overhead to the speaker inset into the ceiling tiles. „Yup, I’m right, and I hate that I know that.“
Next to him John Matthew signed „How do you know?“
Qhuinn: „The little shit is everywhere. I swear, that kid is proof the Antichrist is coming.“
John: „Maybe it’s already here.“
Qhuinn: „Would explain Miley Cyrus.“ (*haha* 😀 )

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Vishous: „I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that.“
Qhuinn: „I left the keys in it.“
V: „That was a dumb-ass move, son.“
No. Fucking. Kidding.
V: „Listen, I gotta go. I need both hands to hold my gut as I laugh my ass off attcha. Later.“

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„You good?“ Rhage prompted.
Qhuinn: „Yeah. Yeah. I’m okay.“
Rhage: „Fritz hates dead bodies in the front hall.“
„But there’s not a lot of blood with strangulation,“ somebody pointed out. „Clean-up would have been easy.“
„Just a floor polish afterward,“ another guy chimed in.

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Qhuinn: ‚As he washed himself, the soap wasn’t half as soft as Blay’s skin, and didn’t smell a quarter as good. The water wasn’t as hot as the fighter’s blood had been, and the shampoo wasn’t as soothing. Nothing came close. Nothing ever would.‘

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Layla: „If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay your head or who with, my vengeance shall rain upon you until you drown.”
That last word was drawn out, until its syllable was lost in more growling. Dead silence.
Until Doc Jane said dryly, “Annnnd this is why they say the female of the species is more dangerous than the male.“

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Blay: ‚In the silence that followed, Blay knew he had something he was supposed to say. Yeah…it was right on his tongue. It was… Shit. With Qhuinn looking at him like that, he couldn’t remember his own name. Blaysox? Blacklock? Blabberfox? Who the fuck knew…‘

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Qhuinn to Blay: „You guys were what got me through it,” Qhuinn heard himself say. “I lived for the night, because I could go over to your house. It was the only thing that kept me going. You were the only thing, actually. It was…you.“
…

Serienreihenfolge:

# 1: J. R. Ward  – Nachtjagd & Blutopfer (Dark Lover) »»
# 2: J. R. Ward  – Ewige Liebe & Bruderkrieg (Lover Eternal) »»
# 3: J. R. Ward  – Mondspur &Dunkles Erwachen (Lover Awakened) »»
# 4: J. R. Ward  – Menschenkind & Vampirherz (Lover Revealed) »»
# 5: J. R. Ward  – Seelenjäger & Todesfluch (Lover Unbound) »»
# 6: J. R. Ward  – Blutlinien & Vampirträume (Lover Enshrined) »»
#6.5: J. R. Ward –BDB – An Insider’s Guide »»
# 7: J. R. Ward  – Racheengel & Blinder König (Lover Avagened) »»
# 8: J. R. Ward  – Vampirseele & Mondschwur (Lover Mine) »»
# 9: J. R. Ward  – Vampirschwur & Nachtsseele (Lover Unleashed) »»
#10: J. R. Ward – Liebesmond & Schattentraum (Lover Reborn) »»
#11: J.R. Ward – Seelenprinz & Sohn der Dunkelheit (Lover at Last) »»
#12: J. R. Ward – The King »»
#13: J.R. Ward – The Shadows
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copyright: jrward.com

About the author – J. R. Ward:
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot. (Source: jrward.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Review] Lover at Last

English Hardcover

English Paperback

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‚Lover at Last‘ by J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood #11/
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Synopsis:
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’m so glad that Ward has got her will and has written this great book. We had to wait so long for it and now finally we also have the story of Qhuinn and Blay. Though I still think that Blay is quite okay, but Qhuinn is just one of my favorites in the series (beside some other characters^^). And he has broken my heart over and over again with his past, his family and also now, when he had to watch almost a whole Blay with Saxton. Particularly because he now finally knows what he wants and what he feels – of course it is still a process also in this book, but finally he confesses his feelings to himself, instead of ignoring them.
Already only for Wards courage and balls, which she has proved by writing this book, she got an extra point from me because this wasn’t as easy as you would like to think. I’ve read in a book-forum that Ward even has to swicht her agency to fulfill her wish to write this homosexual love, because it’s not quite a conservative subject and some people still have a problem with that – which I personally find really sad in nowadays. But Ward hasn’t scared away of it and I find this great! Hats off.

The writing manner of Ward was again typical ‚wardic‘ with her own expressions and many swearwords, curses and the famous f*** word. But here this language doesn’t disturb me because it simply fits to the brothers of the Black Dagger. They are hard men and also express themselves in such a way, which makes them only more real and authentic. For me the characters just feel so alive because of that and I can’t explain it, but for me they are kind of feel real… not like some novel figures, but almost like friends, who are really living somewhere. And I like this thought.

In contrast to ‘Lover Reborn’, in which the plot played over a whole year, here everything happens within some days, namely in the time frame sometime in the winter. Unfortunately I’m not quite sure, when it plays ecaxtly or whether it plays after ‘Lover Reborn’ or in between. Actually at first it also was intended that Qhuinn and Blay only get a short story, as well as Bella’s and Z’s baby story, but then we have got a whole book. For which I’m really glad, but it doesn’t happen much in the background story. As said, the period is quite short and also the Lessers remain in the background, as well as the Band of Bastards. The point, that it doesn’t happen a lot – except the love story of the two main characters, which work off their past and clear it, finally get together and solve their misunderstandings and really start talking – would have disturbed me. But again I’ve read in a book forum, that this was made on purpose (to write only a little about the background story) so that people, who have a problem with homosexual couples, can simply let this book out, and start reading the series right with book # 12, so they won’t miss something important in the main story of the Brotherhood. If this should be right, I can’t reduce the rating by one point and secondly, I would find it really sad and bad in the enlightened time, in which we live – or at least supposed to live. Apparently not everybody is yet as tolerant as I’ve thought. It’s a shame.

So instead of the plot, new characters are gotten embedded or other characters, which before always were shown briefly, got more space and the opportunity to tell also their story – for example Assail, Trez or Xcor. Unfortunately I found this not so great, because thereby a lot of it plays outside the basic formation of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but because of a special twist at the end of this book, I hope that the next part deals again more with the old characters (with JM, V, Z…).
And also the turn with Qhuinn’s brother Luchas was just awesome and I’m really very curious how this will turn out and I hope there will be more about him.

For me all in all it was really a very great book and I couldn’t put it aside. What surprises even me is, although I have no problems with homosexual love, were that I really liked the scenes with Qhuinn and Blay, which again were described very visual and they could persuade me completely. *really hot hot* 😉

And the end was of course again completely for my taste. Maybe some found it too kitschy and, yes, something so soppy even for Ward is very rare at the end, but I was happy nevertheless with it and glad that it has come so. Isn’t it about the fact that you want to finish a book with a smile on your face? I think so and Ward has fulfilled this again totally perfect! Thanks! 🙂

Cover:
Great cover and I don’t know at all which one I like more – the hardcover or the paperback. I’ve got the paperback format of Pitakus at home and find it as great and suitable as like the hardcover version, which also shows Qhuinn perfectly.

All in all:
Almost all expectations were totally fulfilled and it was again a great trip into the world of the Black Dagger, which I love to visit over and over again and leave it again only with a sad heart. Still it is one of my favorite series and I hope it still will go on for a long time.

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points (soo awesome!)

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Quotes:

Qhuinn: „I think that’s Justin Bieber.“
Standing in front of a line up of Lay’s potato chips, Qhuinn looked overhead to the speaker inset into the ceiling tiles. „Yup, I’m right, and I hate that I know that.“
Next to him John Matthew signed „How do you know?“
Qhuinn: „The little shit is everywhere. I swear, that kid is proof the Antichrist is coming.“
John: „Maybe it’s already here.“
Qhuinn: „Would explain Miley Cyrus.“ (*haha* 😀 )

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Vishous: „I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that.“
Qhuinn: „I left the keys in it.“
V: „That was a dumb-ass move, son.“
No. Fucking. Kidding.
V: „Listen, I gotta go. I need both hands to hold my gut as I laugh my ass off attcha. Later.“

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„You good?“ Rhage prompted.
Qhuinn: „Yeah. Yeah. I’m okay.“
Rhage: „Fritz hates dead bodies in the front hall.“
„But there’s not a lot of blood with strangulation,“ somebody pointed out. „Clean-up would have been easy.“
„Just a floor polish afterward,“ another guy chimed in.
.

Qhuinn: ‚As he washed himself, the soap wasn’t half as soft as Blay’s skin, and didn’t smell a quarter as good. The water wasn’t as hot as the fighter’s blood had been, and the shampoo wasn’t as soothing. Nothing came close. Nothing ever would.‘
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Layla: „If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay your head or who with, my vengeance shall rain upon you until you drown.”
That last word was drawn out, until its syllable was lost in more growling. Dead silence.
Until Doc Jane said dryly, “Annnnd this is why they say the female of the species is more dangerous than the male.“

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Blay: ‚In the silence that followed, Blay knew he had something he was supposed to say. Yeah…it was right on his tongue. It was… Shit. With Qhuinn looking at him like that, he couldn’t remember his own name. Blaysox? Blacklock? Blabberfox? Who the fuck knew…‘

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Qhuinn to Blay: „You guys were what got me through it,” Qhuinn heard himself say. “I lived for the night, because I could go over to your house. It was the only thing that kept me going. You were the only thing, actually. It was…you.“.

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Succession:
# 1: J. R. Ward – Dark Lover »»
# 2: J. R. Ward – Lover Eternal »»
# 3: J. R. Ward – Lover Awakened »»
# 4: J. R. Ward – Lover Revealed »»
# 5: J. R. Ward – Lover Unbound »»
# 6: J. R. Ward – Lover Enshrined »»
# 6.5: J.R.Ward – BDB: An Insider’s Guide »»
# 7: J. R. Ward – Lover Avagened »»
# 8: J. R. Ward – Lover Mine »»
# 9: J. R. Ward – Lover Unleashed »»
# 10: J. R. Ward – Lover Reborn »»
# 11: J. R. Ward – Lover at Last »»
# 12: J. R. Ward – The King
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copyright: jrward.com

About the author – J. R. Ward:
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot. (Source: jrward.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Review: Lover Reborn

English Hardcover

German Cover Part 2

German Cover Part 1

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‚Lover Reborn‘ by J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood # 10
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First Sentence:
“ ‚The bastard’s taking the bridge! He’s mine!‘ Tohrment waited for an answering whistle, and when it puddles, his legs going piston, his hands fisting hard.“

Last Sentence:
“ ‚You bet your ass I am. Eternally grateful… I am … Eternally. Grateful.‘ On that note, he kissed his female… and bit into his Big Mac.“

Synopsis:
Back in the Brotherhood – and unrecognisable as the vampire leader he once was – Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams – trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld – Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. When he’s told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed . . .
Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future . . . but can his heart let go and set all of them free?  (Source: goodreads.com)

My thougts about the book:
To quote Vishous‘ words – this book was just ‚fan-fucking-tastic’ awesome!!!
I had high expectations for this book because to me it seemed as if I had to wait an eternity for it. But it has completely paid off and for this book it would be even worth to wait another year – although that would have killed me – and the book has more than only fulfilled my expectations, in every area. I love this book and now it is definitively one of my favorites in the Black Dagger series!

I had so much fun while reading that I can’t form it into proper words. It was always thrilling and emotional and I have read it within 4 days, although the book has 572 pages and was in English! To be honest I’ve not only read it, but have formally soaked it up, almost inhaled it like a drug addict. And I’ll read it soon for a second time, only to make sure that I haven’t missed the smallest detail.

After the weak 9th book ‘Lover Unleashed’ with the story of Payne and Manny, we got the tenth book, in which finally Tohr has his time to get his ‘happily ever after’, who I already liked from the first two books and who I took to my heart. But up to that point he had to suffer, as well as we as the readers, great pains.
His book was full of desperation, sadness, disbelief and fury, because of the too early and cruel murder of his pregnant wife Wellsie. Oh God; he was in such torture and also I’ve poured many tears for him and his gone family and I was also caught by his loss and desperation, which at first seemed to come to no end, to no salvation.

But it wouldn’t be a real Ward-book, if there wouldn’t be also a happy-ending for Tohr and No’One, for which I’m incredibly grateful. Although there were moments in which I thought, there is no going back again and an unhappy-ending is unstoppable, Ward has made it again and presented us an end which made me totally happy. *great*

In this book not only Tohr and No’One got their chance to speak, but there was also a great part of my beloved John Matthew in it, who had, unfortunately, more than only little fights with his Shellan Xhex. But in the end they could also figure it out, which I already hoped for in the beginning.
However, honestly I must admit that though I like Xhex alone as a character, I was already in ‘Lover Mine#8’ not very happy by the constellation of Xhex and John as a couple. In my opinion Xhex is just too hard and on the outside too emotionally cold and for John I would have wished for a softer, more soulful female by his side, after everything he already had to go through. But well, this is not for me to decide, but a fact which disturbs me a little and which I wanted to mention here.

In ‘Lover Reborn’ wasn’t much about the lessening society, although there were fights over and over again against them, but the focus in this book lay unmistakably on another enemy. Namely the Band of Bastard (BoB), the barbarian group from the old country, headed by Xcor, has achieved a fatal hit against king Wrath. Whereby now the fights and the attention of the Brotherhood were directed on this group and have won their priority. I find this constellation of those two groups and their aggression against each other, incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to get to know how it will go on in this remorseless fight.

What I really liked about Ward was, that she presented Xcor not only as an evil/bad person or as a monster, although he has already committed many scandalous doings, but Ward let us also look behind his facade and his internal conflict, and showed us that he became this bad beast because of his education and his training. And I’m sure that he also gets his book soon and I already have a very strong foreboding with which female he will end up. 😉

The best in this book was that it has addressed in me all my emotions. I’ve cried with Tohr and Wellsie. I was sad and bitter with No’One, Qhuinn or Layla. Despaired and lost together with John or I was also able to have fun and laugh with the other brothers or also with the angel Lassiter. And about all in the end I could be happy and finish this book with a pleasant smile on my lips – entirely content and satisfied. 😉

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Okay – actually, I didn’t wanted to spoil too much, but because some members from the book forum already asked me, I just have to give away some great SPOILER. Hence, please don’t read on if you don’t want to know – for all the others – keep on reading! 🙂

I don’t know where I should begin exactly because it happened so much in these 570 pages.

* At first I know that some of you are interested in the right name of No’One‘. Previous in the old country her given name was ‚Rosalhynda‘, but, unfortunately her surname was never mentioned in the book (although some guys have already an idea with whom she could be related beside Xhex ^^).
Later in this book she got a new name by Tohr and he called her ‘Autumn’ because he likes the colors, the strength of light and the beauty of this season – like ‘No’One’ is for him.

* Everybody can still remember that in the sixth book Qhuinn was beaten up so brutally by his own family that he almost died, right? Can you also still remember that he stood before the door of the ‘maker’ and that he saw there a little, blond child with two different colored-eyes?! YES – you can remember – great! Guys, I think that this will soon become reality because Layla had her needing in this book and she asked Qhuinn to serve her in this time.
But no worries – they don’t love each other and they only want to have a child. Actually, they are more like good friends but without any sexual feelings.

* Layla has fallen in love with another, or better to say – she fantasizes about a man, although they have never spoken a word to each other. And the biggest problem is, that she can’t be with him because he is the enemy and brutal and beastly – but she didn’t know that at first when she fed him and while that she has looked into his eyes, behind his facade, directly into the heart of …. -> Xcor and I’m almost 100% sure, that they both will end up together in the future. (Like in ‘The Beauty and the Beast’? ^^)

* Also Qhuinn isn’t in love with Layla and they only hooked up because she begged him and he also wanted to get this child, which he saw at the door of the ‘maker’. They both have nothing of their own and they two just want to belong somewhere, to somebody and they think they will get this with a baby to care for and to love.

* News about Qhuay: I’ve a feeling that we’ll finally get our Qhuay – HEA soon and that maybe hopefully the next book is about Qhuinn and Blay. Do you want to know why? Because of these quote at the end of the book ‘Lover Reborn’:

„Enough, Qhuinn thought.
Enough with the excuses, and the avoidance, and the trying to be someone, anyone else.
Even if he got shanked, even if his precious little ego and his dumb-ass little heart got shattered into little pieces, it was time to stop the bullshit. It was time to be a male.
As Blay started to straighten, like a message had been received, Qhuinn thought, That’s right, buddy. Our future has come.”

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Geeee, how fantastic sounds that and how promising that the next book # 11 is about the both of them?? I can’t wait for it! *great*

* Do you also would like to know which books will come certainly, then here are the already signed ones:
Qhuay,  Lassiter, Trez, iAm, Murhder, Throe and Xcor. …

EDIT: 02.04.2012: It’s official now- Ward has revealed on a signing that QHUINN and BLAYS book are next and they will get a real Hardcoverbook and not just a novella – and that already next year!!! Can’t wait to read it and it’s just fab!! *I’m soo happy* 😀

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Paperback Cover:
I really like cover so much and I think it’s great that finally a guy is on the cover, who looks really similar to the character in the book. Moreover I like the colors and the blood drop which hangs down the letter.

All in all:
I can’t say how often I’ve already mentioned it that I LOVE this series by Ward, as well as this book and I’m sure I’ll say this much more often in the future. For everybody who hasn’t read the books yet – damn it – just get the books and start reading it and let yourself drag also in this crude, but at the same time also thrilling, compassionate, emotional, lovely world of the Black Daggers.

Rating:
5 of 5 points

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Quotes: (guess this time my quotes are a litte more than usual^^)

Tohr (thinking): ‚As he sat with his brothers and the shellans and guests of the mansion, everything was a distant, hazy blur.
Well, almost all of it.
There was only one thing in the vast room that made any impression on him.
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Tohr: ‚I miss you…‘ He stroked the indentation of the gown where her waist would have been – should have been. ‚I miss you so much.‘
…. Why couldn’t his memories bring her back? They felt strong enough, powerful enough, a summoning spell that should have had her magically reinflating the gown.
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Rhage: „And if that bastard’s innocent, I’m the fucking Easter bunny.“
„Oh, good,“ someone quipped. „I’m calling you Hope-along Hollywood from now on.“
„Beasty Bo Peep,“ somebody else threw out….
„People,“ Rhage barked, „the point is that he is not innocent and I’m not the Easter bunny –“
„Where’s your basket?“
„Can I play with your eggs?“
„Hope it out, big guy –“
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Thor (thinking): He took, the took hard and ravenously, drinking deep, and wanting more than just the vein.
He wanted the core of this female.
He wanted in her as he drank from her.
And this was just true even as he was acutely ware that his was not this Wellsie. ….
But he still wanted her.
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No’One to Tohr: „I used to watch you sleep – back in the Old Country. I spent hours memorizing the way he low glow from the peat played over your closed eyes and your cheeks and your jaw.“
Tohr: „Why?“
No’One: „Because you weren’t like the sympath at all. You were dark and he was pale. You were big and he was thin. You were kind to me… and he was not. You were the only thing that kept my from going completely mad.“
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No’One: „Eventually she whispered, ‚I must be getting heavy.‘
Tohr: ‚Not at all.‘
‚You’re very strong.‘
Man, that did his ego good. Matter of fact, she hit him with anything like that again, he was going to feel like he could bench-press a city bus. With a jet plane parked on its roof.“ (*lmao*- I love this quote^^)
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Succession:

# 1: J. R. Ward –    Dark Lover »»
# 2: J. R. Ward –   Lover Eternal »»
# 3: J. R. Ward –   Lover Awakened »»
# 4: J. R. Ward –   Lover Revealed »»
# 5: J. R. Ward –    Lover Unbound »»
# 6: J. R. Ward –    Lover Enshrined »»
# 6.5: J.R.Ward – BDB: An Insider’s Guide »»
# 7: J. R. Ward –   Lover Avagened »»
# 8: J. R. Ward –   Lover Mine »»
# 9: J. R. Ward –   Lover Unleashed »»
# 10: J. R. Ward – Lover Reborn »»
# 11: J.R. Ward – Lover at Last »»
# 12 J. R. Ward – The King
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copyright: http://www.jrward.com/

About the author – J. R. Ward:
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot. (Source: http://www.jrward.com/)

Visit her Website »»

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