Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

Review by Maria (SassenachD)

Well, it took me about 12 hours total reading time (Since I picked it up on March 27 at 3:30 pm)to be dragged through an emotional rollercoaster ride of some 592 pages. Did I enjoy this book? Yes and no.  I liked it much better than Lover Unleashed but this book is still did not give this reader the kick in the pants as the earlier ones did.  In the Companion Book, Ward had mentioned that Tohr’s book would be the end of the BDB series, Hmmmmm….

Lover Reborn (Book 10 in the BDB series) has 4 main story lines going: Tohr & No ‘One with Lassiter for the comic relief and voice of reason, John & Xhex, John & Tohr, Xcor with the Band of Bastards (from Lover Unleashed)who are the new baddies in town and a mini-plot with Qhuinn, Layla, Blay and Saxton.  Wrath, Beth, Jane and Manny are there.  Rhev, Butch, Rhage, Phury, Marissa and Payne get very short word time, Mary and Cormia might have a sentence.
Tohrment is still recovering from the loss of his Wellsie and his unborn child. Lassiter is trying to get him to move on in his life and it felt like No ‘One is there for convenience sake, Un-mated female.  Lassiter is also trying to make nice with the Big Guy upstairs and move on in his life as well. No ‘One deals with her past demons and becomes a stronger woman throughout the story. Thank goodness, her martyrdom was getting on my nerves. I was happy with the growing relationship with between her and Xhex. They have some good Mother-daughter time. By-the-Way, her true name is revealed.  Lassiter explains to Tohr about the In-Between and how we all have our own personal dhunhd (hell) to deal with.  Be prepared to experience various emotions. I cried, like a girl, and then I laughed, mostly at Lassiter.  I would love to hang with that guy.  Then I bawled my eyes out…but found closure with Wellsie’s Into the Fade ceremony.

JohnMatthew and Xhex are still in their newlywed stage. Early in the book during a battle, Xhex becomes injured and JM freaks out.  He experiences a small part of what Tohr, his adoptive father, is going through emotionally with the loss of his beloved mate Wellsie.  JM does not want that to happen to Xhex. EVER. AGAIN. A meeting is called to discuss the matters at hand and Xhex’s injury comes up. The brothers look to JM as the Bonded Male to lay the law down about Xhex fighting again. Xhex, being the spunky bad-ass assassin I so love, does not take the decision of her hellren very well.

I love JohnMatthew. I can identify with him on a very personal level, which I won’t get into here.  But his means of communication via American Sign Language (ASL) and texting is very much like my own. I have been signing since I was 8 and have a degree in Interpreting from Gallaudet. I work in a Deaf School and Interpret. 80% of my day is communicating by ASL. There is a hot scene where JM and Xhex hook up at the Iron Maiden (Trez and iAm’s) club. In her office, no interpreting required…

Readers will also find the situation of the Layla/Quinn/Blay like watching an episode of Maury. Lassiter would totally dig on it.  I don’t like it, but hey, that’s what keeps us as readers involved in the story. Ward really fired up my emotions on that one. Be prepared for a few surprises! Xcor and his merry men set up the Band of Bastards (BoB) and along with the glymera had to replace what the Lessers were to the series. A murder attempt is made on one of the Brothers.  I am curious to see this Vampire against Vampire play out…Where is the Virgin Scribe when you need her? True.

Honestly, I don’t think that this will be the end of the BDB. I think that it is going into a new direction. I’m not sure I like it. Feel Me?  I am tolerating it, for the sake of the Brothers.  I do really wish there was more personal interaction between everyone. I mean, they all live in that blasted mansion, what?  No side stories with the females together? No, glimpse into what little Nalla is up to?  I am wondering if there are too many characters now to keep track of, with the introduction of the BoB, Assail (the new drug dealer), Lassiter on the scene and Hey! What happen to that vampire living in the south?  Some of the earlier characters, in my opinion, haven’t been developed and are just fading away.  Ward could possibly do short stories like “Father Mine” with the other members of the household. I would be cool with that.

All in all, I still am fanatical about the series and do give it high praises. I just am not sure where Ward is taking us. I will just have to keep reading her boards to stay abreast of any new developments. I am glad there is closure and several rebirths as the title states.  And yes, I do have to remember that these characters aren’t real.

I strongly suggest that you read these books in order, otherwise you will be lost.

Ani (goddessani) pointed out to me that she thinks this cover (Tohr’s cover) is the most real looking in that it only shows Tohr.  Not one of those hokey covers where the couple is entwined.  This is, regardless of all the side stories, Tohr’s story.

Rhevenge’s book appears real as well, I love his Amethyst eyes