Wake up lover

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward continues with the third book: Lover Awakened.  This is a series that really reads best when read in its entirety, and especially in order. Though Ward attempts to fill in some gaps for a reader picking up this book initially, it’s impossible to summarize the complex backstory that encompasses the world of these warrior vampires. 

We pick up the story with the search for Bella, who was taken at the end of Lover Eternal by the lessers.  Zsadist has been hunting for her tirelessly despite initially rejecting her when she showed interest in Book 2. Zsadist refuses to get close to anyone, so when he rescues her and she expresses her attachment to him, he tries to pawn her off on his twin, Phury, despite showing signs of bonding with Bella (however reluctant his bonding might be).

Much of his reluctance is borne of his imprisonment as a Blood Slave, and the humiliation he received at the hands of the “Mistress” who held him in slavery, leaving him with a lack of self-worth.  Bella is still drawn to Zsadist, despite his inability to think himself worthy of her because she is a member of the glymera (the vampire aristocracy).

Bella sees the potential inside of Zsadist, and she is drawn now to his vulnerability and his intense feelings of self-sacrifice. Their chemistry is very intense, the tension as Zsadist resists her advances grows until it can be contained no more, and then it practically rockets off the pages in the author’s typical attention to the sexual detail. It’s well worth the wait.

There is more development of the John Matthew character that was introduced in Lover Eternal, and I think eventually he will become a major player. His story is complicated, and at times, I am upset that he is mute, but I am hopeful that eventually he, too, will be allotted his own novel to complete his cycle.

All the Brothers are interesting, but Zsadist had the most room for improvement. More is revealed about the lessers, the Omega, and there is a terrible event in this book that will weigh heavily in the story ahead. This is one of my favorites in the series so far, and it’s on my permanent reread list.

On to the next…