Laura’s Review of Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) by J.R. Ward

Basic Summary: Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood’s bloodlines alive.  As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished. 

What I Love About This Book:    I liked that this book started out a little differently than the rest.  Much like the rest of the series the first character POV changes several times within each chapter.  This time though the epilogue began from the POV of the Omega (the vampires biggest enemy) revealing something almost human about it that makes you hate him just a bit (a very little bit) less.  You learn in this part of the book that there needs to be a natural balance to things, and as much as you grow to hate lessers in this series they exist because vampires exist and that’s just the way it is. 

      I like that the author has finally brought Tohrment back into the mix.  I knew from reading the summaries

Phury and Cormia 

of the other books in this series that he does come back into the fold at a certain point but I wasn’t quite sure when so it’s nice to have him back no matter if his POV is dark and depressing. There was a very touching moment between him and John Matthew that I have been waiting for, for a long time and it gave me chills reading it.

      I do like the fact that Qhuinn, John Matthew, and Blay’s story are intertwining through the series, it gives you a good establishment of these characters so by the time you get to their stories you are very much attached already.   I love how John Matthew handles Blay’s emotions and homosexuality, because it just brings across the point of brotherhood and family so much more poignantly in this book than I felt in the other books.  I really like how the author is kind of dealing with a modern society issue in a series that seems ancient in some ways.

     There are certain points in this book that my heart kind of breaks for Cormia, and for Phury as well.  I really get off on reading love stories where the two people in love are very stubborn or just can’t put a voice to their feelings.  This book definitely fall into that category, with Cormia’s nature being very passive and quiet, and Phury’s wizard telling me he’s a no good vampire not worth the air he breathes makes for some tantalizing and heart breaking moments.  The scene in the theater room was so pivotal and ended so sadly that I wanted to scream!

      The last scene in the book was probably one of the most touching scenes I have read in any book in a very long time and I really liked it and I kind of a drew a sigh of relief when all was said and done because there was so much going on in this book, and there was so much at stake for every character involved and I can’t wait to see how this story plays out in the next one.

Cons:  There was a lot going on in this book, and because of that I felt like the main story dealing with Cormia and Phury was slow going for quite some time.  I kind of felt like it was like the first book, where it took a lot of time to lay the ground work for this series, therefore making Wrath and Beth’s story almost secondary and took a long time to get to any type of climax.  There is so much going on in this book with the Omega looking of for his son, the drama with Qhuinn, John Matthew, and Blaylock, Bella’s pregnancy, Mr. D becoming the forelesser, and on and on.  I needed more Phury and Cormia.  Maybe it was a way to balance out things because the last book was very much centered on Vishous and Jane’s love story and not really dealing with the lessers at all; which was a break from the other books in the series. 

Overall:  This book had me holding my breath through so many parts; I could’ve passed out a certain point!!!  I love that J.R. Ward doesn't just develop a series but a culture in these books, rich with traditions, rules, hierarchies, and so so much more!!! Love the Black Dagger Brotherhood, hot doesn't even describe how awesome these dudes are!!!!