Lover Reborn

A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 23 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward’s novels of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continue, as a vampire warrior crosses the line between life and death…and ventures into an erotic world of dark dreams and darker desires.

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.

When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams - trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquility of the Fade - he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future.…But can his heart let go and set all of them free?

©2012 J.R. Ward (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“J.R. Ward's unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!” (New York Times best-selling author Suzanne Brockmann)

I should have skipped this installment

For the second BDB installment in a row I found myself struggling to connect with the couple that’s supposedly at the center of this story. I enjoyed following Tohr on his road to recovery after losing his mate but No’One’s victim-like demeanor and inability to move on without a man’s help just didn’t sit right with me. I also found the chemistry between the two to be only lukewarm at best; quantity is not a good substitute for quality. Thank goodness for Xhex and JM otherwise I think this book would have been a total flop for me.

I started this novel thinking that a reasonable amount of time had passed since Welsie’s death so Tohr moving on made sense. He lost the love of his life and I thought that Ward did a good job of not belittling his heartbreak. However, once No’One was introduced as a possible love interest the brother’s attitude did a complete 180 and not for the better. Tohr came off as a user who was willing to throw anyone under the bus in an attempt to save his mate from the Fade. Unfortunately for No’One, she was easy prey because of her past and went along with Tohrment’s ridiculous tirade.

One of my main pet peeves about this series is the weak female characters and No’One is the most spineless one to date. I understand that she’s had a tough go at it but you’d think she’d have learned to cope after 200 years. I’m sorry but if I’ve learned one thing in my 30 odd years on this Earth it’s that you can’t rely on anyone but yourself. Yes it’s great to have family and a support system but at the end of the day the only person who can initiate change is you. Funny that I know this but that a centuries old vampire hasn’t figured it out… No, instead she needs a man to save her. Puhlease! Plus, why didn’t anyone else in the house step in or at least try to befriend her? In previous books when a character gets stuck on a destructive path the brotherhood takes action. I wasn’t a big fan of the mid-story name change either. On a few occasions I found myself wondering “where the heck did this Autumn person came from?”

The ending flat out pissed me off; if Ward can turn people into ghosts and revive others, why does Welsie even have to move on at all? Especially given what’s revealed about No’One’s situation. Same thing goes for Lassiter, he supposedly makes the ultimate sacrifice yet suffers no consequences? There were just SO many cope-outs made in this book that I don’t even want to go there or I’ll never finish this review. Lover Reborn is worth reading for the Xhex and JM’s side story but other than that, I’m sad to say that I could have done without this book.

Unsatisfying in the romance department

I expect this won't be a popular opinion - but it's an honest one from my point of view. I think Ward's powerful romances between the brothers and their love-interests in the first novels are a strong factor that drew me in to this series. While there was sexual attraction, there was a distinct lack of romance in the relationship between Tohrment (sp?) and Autumn (No'one). In fact, there were a few uncomfortable scenes where Thor treated her poorly, shows her his disdain, and repeatedly stated he wasn't in love with her. So much so that when he finally declares his love for her, it's unconvincing. I missed the posessiveness ("MINE") and the "bonding scent" that was such a big part of the other brother's bonding with their mates. The motivation for the relationship between Tohr and Autumn (which I can't describe without spoilers) is another depressing aspect of the "romance" between the two.

On the plus side, Ward is highly talented at writing fast-paced, multi-faceted stories and you will certainly be entertained for the 20+ hours of this recording. There is a secondary relationship story between John and Xhex that will keep you riveted as well. Many newer characters are being developed (Band of Bastards) and while I'm not yet emotionally invested in them, Ward has established some interesting teasers/plants that I expect will be nicely developed in future novels. And, as always, the narrator is fantastic!

Outstanding !!!!

What do you say about an author who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. I read all 600 pages in one day, and then I had to get the audiobook so I could listen to Jim Frangione tell the story like no one else could. Unlike the other books in this series, you don't know what the outcome will be. There are so many twists and turns that everything you thought about the vampire couples is turned upside down.

I have been fascinated with the BDB since I read Lover Avenged. The book was so good that I had to go to the first book and read them all. There has always been a flow that I could count on. The inevitable was almost predictable. Not true with Lover Reborn. I spent the entire time I was reading on the verge of tears, tears of happiness and tears of sorrow. Ms. Ward has created characters that become real. They are strong, yet vulnerable. You get invested in their flaws, tragedies, and happiness. Even the bad guys are not really the bad guys, just different, with different points of view.

Don't get me wrong, I hope that Wrath and his men always win in the end, but I had to take a step back and consider Xcor and his men's feelings. This did not happen before. The Lessening Society was always wrong, always bad, and I always wanted them to lose the fight.

Please don't make this book your first taste of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Start from Dark Lover and work your way through the series. You won't be sorry, and everything will make more sense.

Where's the Romance?

I've followed the brotherhood for a while now, and I've been a devoted fan. I know many reading this will be fans, and I respect that. Aside from the obvious incongruity of warriors who are hundreds of years old talking like 17 year old street thugs, I've enjoyed the series. The trouble is, the last 5 books (with one exception) have been disappointments for me. This book, I'm afraid, put the nail in my BDB coffin.

Without providing spoilers, it's hard to voice my complaints about this book, but I'll try. The romance is weak, and in the end, just didn't work for me. I considered Tohr's treatment of No'one for at least the first half of their relationship to be disrespectful at best and emotionally abusive at worst. The second half of their relationship only improved marginally until the very end. This fact was disturbing, but the fact that the rest of the brothers (and household, including No'one's son in law and her daughter) knew what was going on and no one bothered to even mention it, much less intervene, is massively disappointing.

JR Ward, as is her usual style, carries on several story lines in this book, but none of them seem to advance the plot much. They do open up some interesting possibilities for future books, but that's about it.

I've been debating whether or not I'll keep reading this series, but I think this will be the last one for me. I think I'll leave the in between now and step on into the fade.

AWESOME!

Okay, so I bought the hard copy and read it yesterday, so I hole hardily recommend this book. One of the best in the serious! A must read....or listen as it maybe. Jim was amazing as usual! The WARDen did it again.

EVERY SINGLE PARAGRAPH WAS JUST..... WOW

This is how a book should be written AND narrated - perfect in every way. Brilliant, this was definitely the best yet - if you have missed this series then get downloading - you won't be sorry. Curve ball after curve ball is thrown into the storyline.

I'm sad that I've finished it - but I can finally get my life back because I couldn't stop listening to it but, if you happen to read this JRW, then just give me a couple of weeks to get my housework done - then I'm all yours again and ready for the next installment.

Worth a credit? Oh yea - don't tell Audible but I'd spend 2, 3 or 4 (yea I'm that sad!!)

One Word "Love".

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definately. This book has action, romance, drama, and a few twist that will blow you away.

What did you like best about this story?

The introduction of new characters in the story.

What about Jim Frangione???s performance did you like?

As always he does an excellent job. He is so in tune with the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes, you won't want to put it down.

Any additional comments?

The two main characters come full circle in thier own greiving process. You are able to connect with them. This book shows so many different types of love for one another. To me this oneis the best the series thus far.

JR WARD DOES IT AGAIN!

Would you consider the audio edition of Lover Reborn to be better than the print version?

I love the audio version! Another great performance by Jim Frangione!

What did you like best about this story?

JR Ward does it again! This book was Awesome! It made me cry, laugh, and then cry again! I recommend the BDB to all my friends!

Any additional comments?

If you haven't read this series. I would recommend you do!

Alright but could have been so much better...

It was alright but I was kinda disappointed with this one... I have at least liked if not loved the previous books from the BDB series but this one fell flat for me. I know there are fans out there that loved this book so maybe I'm just not enough of a die-hard fan to appreciate this installation. I've always liked Tohr but I didn't feel Ward did his character justice. In this book I felt like Torh was written as a clueless idiot that couldn't get his head out of his butt. The book/story ended with a HEA but I didn't really feel that it was a believable HEA which made me sad and by the end I was just relieved that it was done and I had gotten through it. Part of me wished I hadn't bought the book (both because of the affect this story had on my views of Tohr's character and the money spent on it) and it hasn't encouraged me to get the next in the series...

Lover Reborn

This is not the first time reading this book and it won’t be the last.
Tohr had my heart from the beginning he was always one of the brothers I liked most. I don’t know if it was the way he was with Wellsie or what, but he was just special and when Wellsie passed and Tohr did that poof thing, I wasn’t mad. I know a lot of people are made he left JM behind but he lost the love of his life in such a horrific manner. What good would he have been to JM at that time?

This book you know something was going to happen with No’One but I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. She is punishing herself for her choices she mad in the past. He is punishing himself for not being there for Wellsie.

But they shared this connection, maybe because she was saved by him and Darius I don’t know or was it because he took care of her until she had Xhex. I guess we will never know but now with her showing up its got Tohr in a tails spin that’s for sure.

“It takes true courage to break through the past.”

How true is this quote for the book they both have to break through to get to the other side of their pasts.
We find out why Lassiter is hanging around and it breaks my heart. He is there to save Wellsie and their young get to the fade because she got stuck in the in-between.
I love all of Lassiter’s-isums... He has some of the very best lines.

“Sh -- it. I missed Maury, but I DVR’d Ellen.”

“I bought us all big mac’s.”

“Besides no Maury in heaven.”

“Plus this place has cable.”

Watching No’One become Autumn was sweet and I loved it. Her first feeding was something too.
Not only her connection with Tohr but also watching her be a mother figure of sorts and the relationship grow.
My favorite quote by Autumn.

“My daughter, my beautiful strong, worthy daughter.”

And come on the motorcycle scene with Xhex – EPIC!
So yes I cried at the end of this book it was emotional, you saw the struggle it was for both Autumn and Tohr to not only come together but find love. So when all was said and done and what happened, happened… I bawled, there I said it are you happy lol…

Now to Lover at Last people!