Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9)

Review posted here:[...] The Black Dagger Brotherhood are back. After the nearly year long wait, having this book in my hands definitely calmed my nerves. But the wait is finally over and I am happy to report, it was worth it. This book immediately begins in the middle of a war. We are actually introduced to new vampires, the Anti-Brotherhood if you will. They are about slaughtering lessers and humans alike for sport. Bloodletter, the leader of the Anti-Brotherhood, has been murdered by a woman who pops out of nowhere. His son and second in command, Xcor (who scares me shitless by the way), is pissed by what he has seen and does not want anyone outside his group of bastards to tell the world his dad was taken down by a woman. This is where Xcor starts his 250 year hunt Then we end up in the modern day. Since we know that Payne is paralyzed from the waist down, Jane needs to do something to save her. The only person that can save her though is Manny, a gorgeous doctor in the human world whose brain has already been fiddled with by the vampires. Also who was in love with Jane and is still yearning for her a year after her death. So when she finally gets into the human world (after Vishous's bitchiness), surprising Manny with her not-so-dead appearance, Manny is less than pleased, but will do anything for a patient. Of course, Manny falls for Payne pretty quickly and Payne falls for him just as fast. But Vishous doesn't like it one bit and this is what sends him in a downward spiral. I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Although that doesn't go without saying there were some things that were different about this book. Not complaining mind you, but the format was different in this book. For instance, in the other books all the other books usually follow about two stories/characters and our main bad guy (sometimes three). But in this book, we have about four or five different stories going. It isn't bad, but it is quite different. In Lover Unleashed, we are given more of Vishous' story and like other have said (and is quite true), this was like part 2 of Vishous' story. But not given him a big story in this wouldn't make sense in my opinion. After all, he is about to lose his sister, Payne, who he just discovered existed in his 300 years of life. But I like where it went. I like that he started breaking down walls between him and Jane and trying to work pass his tragic past. But we do get plenty of Manny and Payne. Really loved Manny, he was smart and hot and really pulled through for Payne. Payne was amazing. I loved her mannerisms. She was stuck in the old days and had such an innocence about her, yet she had the ability to tear anyone to shreds. She was a favorite for me. Also in this book, we don't follow a main bad guy, a lesser usually. We are following Xcor and his band of vampires. Xcor has a grudge, wants to destroy the woman who killed his dad and wants to take down Wrath and get his throne. But this story takes a turn and I am not sure where it is going to go, but I can tell you, it is going to get ugly. We get more og Qhuinn in this book, which was great, but very sad. He is basically killing himself over what went down between him and Blay. It is very sad. We also find that Qhuinn has a special talent and sees something that both makes sense and is confusing, If you read it, then you know what I am saying (I hope). Another book I am more than happy to talk about forever, but I won't give so much away. I loved this book so much. It was a great addition to the series. Although I wish we got more lesser battles. I wanted a little more of Manny and Payne, but the book is nonetheless well balanced, it doesn't feel like it is dragging. I am also very happy that we got more characters that I am very interested in, specifically Throe and Thomas Del Vecchio Jr. Can't wait to get to their stories. Overall, this is highly recommended for any Black Dagger Brotherhood fan. The characters were as amazing as ever and this book was full of some surprises I didn't see coming. Also the ending will leave you smiling, well I was laughing because it was such a great moment. Lover Unleashed will not disappoint.

Excellent book!! Continues the saga very well with some much needed closure on Vishous and Jane. I'm much happier now with Jane as a ghost, more accepting of her and her relationship with Vishous. We get to see more of Vishous in this book and some loose ends of his personality are tied up. Also, we get to see the relationship between Vishous and Butch evolve to something that involves satisfaction.Payne and Manny have a nice love story, at the end of the book it all seems very inevitable for them. Loved that Ward threw in the part about the horse Glory. That helped to flesh out Manny for me. I really like Payne. I would like to see more interaction between Payne and Xhex. I love the fact that Payne is a kick ass woman warrior. I cannot wait to see her fighting side by side with the Brotherhood.New partner for Jose de la Cruz shows up and brings a whole string of possibilities. I would like to ultimately see a meeting between Butch and Jose. Hope that's coming in a future book. However, Veck has some issues of his own. I cannot help but wonder, with all the questions floating around about him, is he another half breed vampire? Is there a possible relation to a half brother or two already on the scene?Xcor is a relatively new character that is fleshed out more in this book. I went from loving to hate him to grudgingly admiring him to not trusting him again. I like Throe. I really do and I feel there be more we will get to know about him as the series progresses. Still, Xcor and his followers represent a threat to the king and I really like Wrath as King. Also, Wrath is a pretty tough dude and savvy too. Xcor may have bitten off more than he can chew to go after Wrath.As far the Glymera. I think we can all see why the race is failing. The glymera are a bunch of elite pompous socialites whose society is rotting from the inside and they cannot even see it. No love lost for them. They are weak and not terribly smart and I have no doubt given most any situation, they'll make the poorer choice/judgement.The Qhuinn/Blay thing is really being drawn out. I want to just scream at Qhuinn to go knock on Blay's door already! I look forward to their story having a happy ending one of these days. But poor Layla! Will that child never have a happy day? I'd like to see her hook up with somebody! Maybe an as yet known vampire or half vampire? Or even one of the bad guy vampires?They don't have to stay bad guys forever do they? Couldn't Throe at least switch sides?Lots more going on in this book about the story of the BDB. I've seen a lot of reviews that were negative or less than positive. I think the series has progressed to the point that Ward had to vary her "one love story per book" and give us a little more of the entire group and I hope people can grow along with the story and realize that it is right and good that the stories in the books progress and unfold a little differently than the first three books of the series.Lassiter. Where was he? And Tohr? What's up with him? I know Ward cannot give a complete run down on every member in every book. Still, I would like to see just a mention of all the characters even just a sentence in a group scene.And mostly, these vampires have got to stop messing with the minds of important characters. Poor Manny was just ruined!! But he's okay now. I'd like to see a little more vampire concern when they start messing with the minds and livelihoods of humans.And yes, the Kindle version seemed to skip the editing process but it was readable, not sure what went wrong with that.And Murdehr, maybe not as crazy as everyone thinks. I look for him to maybe come back into the fold and fight along with the BDB again and even though he wasn't mentioned in this book, I hope to see him maybe in the next one?In all, a great read and I really look forward to the next book in the series. There's lots of plot still to unfold and lots of questions still to be answered and probably asked. Hopefully we'll see Manny have some sort of confrontation with his mother and maybe get to the bottom of that situation. As in... how many half breed vampires are running around that part of the country? The mystery dad seemed to have been quite the lover of human women.I enjoyed this book tremendously and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Very good condition hardcover.

This is the series that just keeps on getting better.love the whole series sexy,smart and sassy . I can’t wait to read the next one

Inglese non così difficile, tra poco in uscita anche in italiano.Uno degli ultimi libri della Black Dagger Brotherhood che mi è piaciuta di più

I am a HUGE fan of J.R. Ward, her Black Dagger Brotherhood series is one of my all time favourites. Despite this, I was hesitant about starting this Lover Unleashed, Payne was not a character that had interested me. Manny however, I was curious about. BUT, this is not Manny and Payne's book...oh no...this is Vishous and Jane part 2. In theory Lover Unleashed is Payne and Manny's story of true love with Vishous and Jane's relationship blues as a side story. It doesn't come across like that though, Vishous' story has such passion that it completely overshadows Payne's storyline. Don't get me wrong, this book is still pretty good, and to be honest I was more interested in reading about Jane and Vishous/ Blay and Qhuinn (yes, they're in here too!) anyway.Manny and Payne's story probably only amounts to about 1/2 of the book, and begins where Lover Mine left off. Payne is in a hospital bed in the Brotherhood's compound where she has remained since her sparring accident with Wrath which paralysed her from the waist down. Dr. Manuel 'Manny' Manello (who some may remember from Lover Unbound) is chief of surgery and the only who has any chance of reversing Payne's paralysis. One problem...he's human...she's not. Payne is the Scribe Virgin's daughter and Vishous' twin sister, making her extremely off limits to Manny, however when this unlikely pair first meet they forge an unbreakable bond. They struggle through Payne's recovery together and have a few blips in their relationship (mainly when Vishous wipes Manny's memories in an attempt to protect his twin) but you can feel Manny's passion for this delicate woman.The pair discover truths about themselves as the relationship progresses, Payne begins to heal despite all the odds and Manny uncovers a secret from his past that ties him to the Brotherhood forever. I liked Manny as a character, he's strong willed and quick witted, plus is able to stand up to Vishous - no mean feat, he scares me too! Payne however is another matter, up until now she's been this kick-ass warrior who bows to no-one. And yet in this book, she seems to have lost most of her fight, her spirit...plus I find it hard to get my head around the way she speaks. As a couple they don't seem to fit together as well as some of the others do, and their story didn't move me as much as say...Rhage and Mary's. It's not awful, but definitely not my favourite.Now for the part of the book I loved. There are cracks forming in Vishous and Jane's relationship, most of it due to Vishous still not believing himself to be worthy of his female, and he's still tormented by his horrific past. Their relationship fractures over Payne's treatment and I thought it was irrecoverably broken. I couldn't see a way for Vishous to work through his issues, after all they're so ingrained into his being that I don't think he even knew how badly damaged he was. Then I remembered...THIS IS J.R. WARD, if anyone could help Vishous then she could! And oh my God! There is a scene (well several if I'm truly honest) that brought tears to my eyes. For the first time, Vishous, the fierce hard hearted warrior that he is...was laid bare. It's a treat for fans of the BDB because it also adds yet another level to the relationship between V and Butch (as if it wasn't complicated already).His path certainly isn't an easy one, Vishous becomes increasingly self destructive throughout, and it takes an unbreakable friendship between him and Butch (which by God is put through the wringer) to bring stability back to Vishous' life. It's a heart-warming story of true love - not just the love between Vishous and his shellan, but the love between two best friends who would die for each other. In one word, beautiful.For hardcore BDB fans (like myself) you will be pleased to know that there is some more Blay/ Qhuinn action, though their story still isn't progressing the way I want it to. Also there appears to be trouble heading the Brotherhoods way in the form of the Bloodletter's old crew. Xcor has his sights set on Wrath and the throne. The Blind King seems to have a war coming his way. Is it one he can win? I don't know...Though I've picked at Payne and Manny a bit I still thoroughly enjoyed Lover Unleashed. I cannot get enough of J.R. Ward's writing. Her characters are full of vitality, they practically jump off the page and pull you into their world whether you like it or not. I cannot wait for Lover Reborn in March and anyone who has even a slightest interest in paranormal romance must checkout the Black Dagger Brotherhood

Seit seiner Erblindung wechselt Wrath immer wieder auf die "andere Seite", um dort mit Payne zu kämpfen, was ihm hilft, mit seiner Situation klarzukommen. Bei ihrem letzten Sparring hatte er fatalerweise Payne eine schwere Wirbelsäulenverletzung zugefügt. Statt sich von der Scribe Virgin heilen zu lassen, die sie über Jahrhunderte eingesperrt hielt, will Payne lieber riskieren, in Freiheit zu sterben, als wieder gefangen zu sein. Dieses Risiko ist weitaus höher, als sie denkt - Doc Jane hält ihre eigenen chirurgischen Fähigkeiten nicht für ausreichend. Der einzige, der einen so riskanten Eingriff erfolgreich durchführen könnte, ist ihr ehemaliger Boss und Verehrer Manuel Manello, der Janes vermeintlichen Tod immer noch nicht verwunden hat. Diesen ausfindig zu machen und herzuschaffen stellt sich als unerwartet schwierig heraus, und damit fangen die Probleme erst richtig an. Vishous tut sich schon schwer damit, seinen ehemaligen Konkurrenten ins Haus zu lassen; als dieser Gefühle für seine Schwester entwickelt und nach der OP Probleme auftreten, gerät V immer mehr aus der Fassung.Als wäre dies nicht schlimm genug, treibt in New York ein Serienkiller sein Unwesen, auf dessen Fersen sich neben Butch O'Neals Ex-Kollegen auch noch die Söldnertruppe um den Bloodletter und ihr neuer Anführer Xcor geheftet haben. Dieser begnügt sich nicht damit, die Lessers zu immer heftigeren Schlagabtäuschen aufzustacheln, er hat auch mit Payne und Wrath noch eine Rechnung offen...In Folge 9, die inhaltlich direkt an "Lover Mine" anknüpft, gibt es dramatische Spannung ab der ersten Seite. Die Handlung um Payne und Manny erinnert etwas an die Geschichte von Vishous und Jane mit vertauschten Rollen, gewinnt aber bald ein eigenes Profil durch die sehr einfühlsame Art, mit der sich Manny um Payne kümmert und wie er versucht, ihr ein mögliches Dasein im Rollstuhl als lebenswert erscheinen zu lassen. Mit Payne gibt es nach den verschiedenen Brothers eine starke weibliche Hauptfigur, die auch kämpfen kann und sich nicht vorschreiben läßt, wo es langgeht.Noch bewegender ist der Handlungsstrang um Vishous und wie er mit der neuen Situation klarzukommen versucht. Sah es in den letzten Folgen so aus, als hätte er mit seiner von Gewalt und Traumatisierung geprägten Vergangenheit seinen Frieden gemacht, bringt ihn die bisher verborgene Existenz seiner Zwillingsschwester, der damit enthüllte neuerlichen Verrat durch seine Mutter, verbunden mit dem Payne drohenden Schicksal und welche Rolle er darin spielen soll, in eine sich immer schneller drehende Abwärtsspirale, aus der er aus eigener Kraft keinen Ausweg mehr findet. Diese Entwicklung und die seit langem unausgesprochene unterschwellige Anziehung zwischen V und Butch gipfeln in einer schmerzhaften und schwer auszuhaltenden Begegnung zwischen den beiden, die mehr Fragen aufwirft, als sie beantwortet. Gleichzeitig liegt darin aber auch die Möglichkeit für Veränderungen in der Zukunft; wie wahrscheinlich diese sind und ob der "neue" V überzeugt, bleibt für zukünftige Folgen abzuwarten.Der Handlungsstrang um Qhuinn und sein verzweifeltes Ringen um eine gesellschaftlich akzeptable Verbindung wird ebenfalls aufgegriffen, nimmt aber nicht mehr soviel Raum und emotionale Intensität ein wie im vorhergehenden Band.Mit Xcor und seinen Soldaten kommt eine interessante Gruppe neuer Player ins Spiel; sie halten sich nicht an einen ähnlich strengen Verhaltenskodex wie die Brothers, bringen diese aber durch ihre Aktionen in Zugzwang und manchmal in Gefahr. Gleichzeitig nehmen die Lessers eine weniger zentrale Rolle ein, nachdem Lash als Bösewicht ausgeschaltet wurde, was zu einer strafferen Handlung als bisher beiträgt. Auch sonst ist der Plot sehr rund und straff erzählt, ohne überflüssige Nebenhandlungen oder überlange Rückblenden in die Vergangenheit, mit einer guten Prise Humor und einer sehr liebenswerten Nebenakteurin namens Glory.Lediglich die Auflösung, wie Manny in der Brotherhood bleiben kann, wirkt etwas zu glatt und kommt einem aus einer anderen Folge schon etwas bekannt vor, was aber den Lesegenuß einer rundum gelungenen Folge nicht wesentlich schmälert (ich konnte das Buch das ganze Wochenende nur schwer aus der Hand legen, bis ich es fast in einem Rutsch "inhaliert" hatte).