Book Review: Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood #7) by J.R. Ward

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this installment to the series. The book itself is very chunky with so much stuffed between the covers it's going to be hard to review this without any spoilers (I'll do my best and hide anything that reveals to much).

This book focuses on Rehvenge (Bella's brother) who has really been a secondary character, albeit an intriguing one, up until now. We have seen him as Bella's somewhat over protective brother and as Phury's drug dealer, trying to hide his 'dark side' from the rest of Vampire society; knowing that if anyone found out about his being half sympath he would be shipped off to the sympath colony. On a visit to Haver's clinic for more of the drugs that keep his sympath side suppressed, he meets nurse Ehlena; this book is the story of how he tries to protect her from his world. Not just the sympath in him and his monthly visits with princess; but the drug dealing, the clubs; basically everything that makes up his life. He doesn't want to be with her, because he doesn't see himself as good enough for her, and yet he can't imagine life without her. Ironically Ehlena feels the same about Rehvenge (although for different reasons).

I like that Ehlena is another strong female character that can think for herself and doesn't necessarily do as she is told. I think that if all the women in these books were quiet and did as they were told all the time without an argument, not only would they not be likable and irritating as characters, I think it would also make the male characters less appealing. Each book in series starts with the main character seeming quite hardened to the world, and as the story goes on and you start to peel back the layers you always see a different 'softer' side to them, they come across a bit more mellow. Zsadist being perfect example of this. They are all alpha male characters and, to an extent, all control freaks that want to have their own way. I think it's having the strong female characters that makes the story, and peels away the layers so you get to see what is really going on underneath the dominant, alpha male exterior.

There was so much going on in this. With events going on in this book such as (view spoiler)[Rehvenge's true identity as a sympath not being such a big secret anymore, and the death of both the princess and the sympath king now makes Rehvenge their leader, it will be interesting to see how this develops and the effects that it will have on the kind of relationship that he will have with Wrath and the Brotherhood. Hopefully it will be a good thing for them both. (hide spoiler)]

Xhex and John: (view spoiler)[ I can't wait to really get into the next book to see where this relationship is going. After getting the cold shoulder from Xhex, the effect that John's subsequent change in personality will have on himself and well as the people around will be. Also seeing how things play out with Xhex now that she has been taken by Lash, and getting to see more of who she is as a person is something that I'm looking forward to in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

Great book with lots of detail. Highly recommend if you have kept up with the series.


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