Lover Awakened - J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened  (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3) - J.R. Ward
Grade: Adult - PNR
Rating: 5/5 stars

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… (Description from Goodreads)



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I can honestly say I'm shocked by 'Lover Awakened'. So many things happened that I never could have imagined. I thought the previous book was good with its twist at the end, but 'Lover Awakened' topped that. While I managed to guess the paths of a few twists, some had my jaw hitting the floor. I'm so glad this series isn't as predictable as I originally thought it might be.

Zsadist has such a troubling past. I guess I should say Phury does too, as their lives as twins are so connected, it's hard to escape each other. I love seeing their past through flashbacks and watching them attempt to move on. There's more to the Brotherhood than their warrior facade.

I cannot believe how many heart breaking moments were in this book. I had to stop reading a few times, because I couldn't handle the pain. I hope there's a happier future set for some of the characters in the next books.

I think a reason why I liked Zsadist's book so much was partly because there wasn't as much lesser involvement as the previous two books. They were still in the novel and did have a pretty important role in helping the Brothers overcome the fear of being held captive (especially for Zsadist and Phury); but towards the end of the novel they moved out of the focus and it made the ending more enjoyable.

I am a little confused about the way 'Lover Awakened' ended. There was a lot of time jumping in the final pages and it made me wonder where the next book will pick up the story from. Will it being where the main story ended, or after the time jump?

Such a good story. I adore Zsadist and Bella.
5/5 stars.

Kim
Originally posted on Goodreads