Lover Enshrined (2008) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 0 stars

“book 6”

• Rated 2 stars

“Total disapointment.it was a story about everyone else except phury.and the part abot him was also disapointment,i dont understsnd why the author ruined his charachter
”

• Rated 3 stars

“Good but not the best in the series. I had issues with Phury's story. I didn't think "the wizard" (which was the equivalent of a dark passenger) was necessary in the story. I didn't buy the concept of Phury being tortured on the inside. He couldn't be anymore tortured than Zsadist. I did love the secondary stories. John, Qhuinn, Blay, and Rhev are interesting characters that are developed and have great story lines. I liked that Ward made the lessers more complex by adding a dangerous element and a new big bad for the brothers to fight. That should be interesting in the upcoming books.”

• Rated 2 stars

“One of the weakest of the series”

• Rated 3 stars

“Lover Enshrined

Events that happened in Lover Unbound forced the hand of Destiny. Phury found himself volunteering for the role of Primale, as tradition dictates the Chosen and any member of the Brotherhood will be responsible in ensuring that the race of vampires is preserved with youngs bred from superior lineage.

But Phury, as a celibate and a junkie is not sure how he'll live up to the demands. Soon his addiction and other emotional baggage gets in the way of his duty both as a Primale and a Brother. His erratic behavior and addiction made him unreliable and a danger to the Brotherhood which forced a confrontation between him and his twin Zsadist which is centuries overdue; and Wrath relieving him of his Brother duties.

Although this is supposed to be a Phury-centric book his storyline wasn't only focused on him unlike in the previous novels where the story would revolve around a certain Brother. As the novels and the story of the Brotherhood progress, Ward doesn't just concentrate on the love story part but on the continuity of the tale and follows up on events and cliffhangers as she goes along. The series is carefully planned and written and she makes the story as tight-knit as she can, avoiding any loose strings. Although there are ridiculous twists like in Lover Unbound but it doesn't take away the fact that she's a good storyteller.

I understand why this series is such a big hit among us females; a band of damaged, leather clad, outrageously handsome vampires that exudes pure, undiluted testosterone that screams SEX lets out the animal in us. We want to be their chosen mate, the one who will take away centuries of pain, to tame the beast that hides within. These vampires are not your typical ones, they are NOT pale, they wine and dine and they live in style and breathes anything and everything designer. Although their description is probably based on pro wrestlers like Prada wearing Batista, Triple H, The Rock and the like, Ward wisely inserted qualities that makes the Brothers fantasy worthy.

Every book seems to be longer and more complicated than its successor as more complications and future storylines are introduced. It can be a bit of a challenge especially if you're part of the ADD generation but with a deluge of action going on in the book you'll really have to give it extra attention otherwise you'll miss the details.

As for the villain, I feel like Ward needs to take her antagonists more seriously. Although Lash (a newly transitioned vampire) is The Lessening Society's silver bullet against the Brotherhood and the Vampire race, Ward doesn't pit him against Butch aka The Dhestroyer, who's missing while this part is going down, but instead faces him off against John Matthew, a former Brorther's reincarntion. Another inconsistency is The Omega was the one responsible for Butch being the Brotherhood's ultimate weapon against The Lessening Society (Lover Revealed), if he made a son (Lash) in the beginning why would he give part of his powers to the enemy? Possibly with the intention of repairing that hump, Ward creates a back story to justify Lash's character and his relevance in the story. In my opinion, The Omega needs to be more sinister, more cunning, he needs to be better in what he does so that he'll be a worthy opponent against a powerful group.

I might be picking the story too much but like what I said in my previous reviews, this series makes me think on top of getting swept away by the romance and the action. I hope that she works on her villains more, now with Lash in the picture I hope that he will be the central nemesis and Ward makes him worthy to be pitted against the Brothers. Personally Mr. X's profile was interesting and he has a lot of room to be the ultimate villain, I don't understand why she pulls him in and out of the story like lightning. I guess I'll find the answer to my questions in the succeeding volumes.”

• Rated 2 stars

“This has been my least favortie in the serier so far. I'm glad Phury decides to step up in the end of the book, but his journey to the ending was so full of his self loathing, woe is me, junkie attitude. If i had been cormia i would have left him...love or not...he was in such a horrible downward spiral that i was surprised he made it out alive. Other than Phury making me mad...I was so happy that Tohr finally is home with the brotherhood...i'm hoping he can make as full of a recovery as possible after losing the love of your life. I am eager to read more about John Matthew, Blay, Qhuinn and Lassiter...(i'm wondering, if they may eventually induct him into the brotherhood??) I'm also worried about the Scribe Virgin..why has she been so depressed lately...and what is all this talk about vishous' twin..payne? can't wait for the next book! Oh also, i was soo happy to read that Bella made it through the birth and that the baby was safe! So happy for Zsadist and bella!”

• Rated 4 stars

“Love Phurry's story! I was happy that he chose Cormia and let the Chosen live with him.”

• Rated 5 stars

“
I am really not sure how I feel about this book or even if the rating should be as it is. I have become emotionally invested into this series at this point and I find myself close to each and every Brother. Most I know their secrets - even those that aren't the center point to the story - and I understand where they come from.

Phury, I think, was probably the most emotionally scarred that I have ever come across. He takes on such responsibility on his shoulders that its no wonder he turns to drugs repeatedly throughout the book series. I can't even imagine why he would do such a thing to himself, but when getting into his head, one sees this internal battle that's fought. His brother had been taken from his family, he was accused of being a curse, his family completely fell apart, and the list snowballs out of control from there. And there's that little voice that commands his every action; I am shocked he hadn't lost his mind.


I wanted to cry in the moment when Phury and Z had a heart-to-heart. When one works so hard to keep life as clean as possible for the other, when one gives and gives, and suddenly they see themselves at the edge of a cliff. Phury gives and gives, and now he has left nothing for himself.


At first I was angry at Ward's fate for Phury, but not as angry as I should have been because I think it was a sign that most people were dodging up until it came up.


And like the rest of Ward's books, this one has multiple story lines. Lash's true self has been revealed, John and his friend's have their own drama, which in turn has a lot of drama for the elite vampire society, which has another drama and on and on it goes. The story has truly become complex and to some extent I was feeling like I was reading more about the others than I was about Phury. I mean, Ward, I love to see what you have planned for future books, but can we focus on the one that this one was intended for, please?


Ward has stated that she doesn't know how many books will come out of this series, so as we get more and more dramas popping out you can for sure count on each minor character in those tales getting their own book...eventually.


And I don't want to give out any spoilers, but something big takes place. Well, several something bigs, but one of them I think fans of the series will really like. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“LOVE THIS author/series”

• Rated 4 stars

“********Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers ********* Reviews/ and mostly summaries I write mostly for myself about a book. So DON’T READ
This book is a big change from the usual. Most of the brotherhood books are about 25% about other characters/Lessers and 75% is about the brother and their love interest. Not this book, this was 75% about everyone else and only 25% about Phury and Cormia. I did enjoy this book only because of the outside characters. I liked reading about the 3 musketeers (what i call, John, Qhuinn, and Blay) There are major changes with the lessers and also a huge change in the brotherhood society. Lash coming into who he really is makes a huge change to both sides. OH and the return of Tohr, with his new little sidekick is exciting because of the fact we have no idea who lass is but it seems everyone likes to hate him. But going back to Phury and Cormia, their relationship was the one that should have been the longest, seeing how she was there for months living with the brothers, yet was the shortest because Phury never spent time with her, and i think that's what bothers me, that their love story was so short and i felt there really was no background for it. So i really would just give this book 3 and a half stars. My favorite part of the book was actually at the very beginning and at the end. Starting off with Rev interrogating the guy who hit Chrissy was an amazing way to start. And the ending with Z finally having his daughter and the brotherhood going to see Phury, to show him he is still part of the family was a great touch. Phury had felt that he had to leave everything behind because he was failing everyone because of his addiction, and yet it shows in that part that family is forever. Now i like to play a game of guess who ends up with who, because i don't read ahead summaries of the next book. So lets see who we have . . REV!! i want him with Vis sister. Rev and Vis just remind me so much of each other in a way and i just think his sister can deal with him, and since she is the daughter of the virgin she has powers. John is out we already know who he is going to be with. Qhuinn and Blay i think should be together but IF they are with a female i think Qhuinn should be with Laylay because she was trained, and they would just work out. Blay not so sure, i even think we should get someone for haver, even though at the moment he isn't the brother's best friend. Than we have Doc Jane's friend the doctor who we know we will see more of and now Tohr's little sidekick is in the mix. So many couples we can still have.”