So a few folks have pointed out the hiss and snarl that’s going on at the Amazon.com page for JR Ward’s newest book,Lover Enshrined. If I had to sum up my reaction to some of these reviews, I’d have to say, “What the crapping damn hell is going on here?” I’ve never seen an Amazon review section where there’s roughly the same number of reviews for each level, from five stars down to one. The laudatory reviews proclaim it a bold new direction for the series; the one-star reviews are ready to sit on low benches and mourn the passing of their favorite series from auto-buy to never-again.
Combine that with the email asking me if I’ve read it yet, and the comments here and there that have mentioned readers who are dying to discuss it and I’m officially curious. So, then, let ‘er rip.
Caveat 1:
If you don’t want spoilers, don’t read the comments.
Caveat 2: I politely ask that you refrain from one habit that really makes me feel squidgy: don’t presume to know what Ward was thinking or what motivated her. It’s not about the author; it’s about the book. If you didn’t like the book, please explain why. If you’re disappointed, ditto. But please don’t make statements about how she’s only in it for the money, she’s scamming the public, yadda yadda. I’m not trying to host a slamfest about Ward. I’m honestly curious why rabid fans are heartbroken about the book. Because damn, there’s some rabid heartbreak out there. They’re emailing me. They use a lot of vowel of anguish. Or, ahnguihsh. Or sohmthingh.
Candy adds big words: “The distinction between author and book may feel artificial sometimes, because the author is the creator of the work, and any critique of the book is necessarily a critique of the author’s work, which in turn reflects on the author’s (perceived) abilities. But focusing on the text, interpretations, reader expectations and reader reactions is ultimately a much more fruitful enterprise, because nobody knows Ward’s intentions other than Ward herself.”
Within those boundaries, you want to bring forth your opinion? Want to discuss? Bring it on. I want to hear what you have to say.
I’d never visited her boards and did today. It’s just weird – I understand the fun of online communities, but I just can’t stand endless fawning of the “Oh, don’t tease us! Give us more! Oh, so funny! LOLOL! ROTFLMAO!” variety. And she writes her characters as if they were real people responding on the board…like, fanfic in which they have little adventures and somehow the dialog ends up on the board, complete with LOLs, even in circumstances were they would clearly not have computers. It’s inconsistent and waaaaaay too cutesy for me. Especially after the Zsadist/Bella Creed songfic. Creed!
This may be a long post and hopefully spoiler free but not for certain.
Personally, I rate LEn as a D+ and only b/c I actually enjoyed two of the six (I believe its six books) fully. That’s Wrath and Rhage book although Z book was okay. What I disliked about this book was what I dislike about most of her books. Inconsistency. I read fiction b/c I am a believer in possibilities so you can sell me on any story –as long as you’re consistent. You’re not consistent, and then you lose me and have some serious explaining to do. I do read some UF but not a dire hard fan of it so I can very well be stereotyping the genre (don’t decapitate me if I do). What I do know about it that you have to be very strong in creating an alternative universe –this has never been Ward’s strength. I like some of the others post, have overlooked this when reading her previous stories b/c I am in it for the romance. When I go into Borders or B&N;for my pleasure reading, I do not steer into anything but the Romance section and (if it’s Borders b/c they segregate the AA Romance in Atlanta at least) the AA section. It is what makes me happy the most and what I prefer to read when I do not have to read my DSM-IV type books. I do not like to be trick into reading anything else –it’s my me time and I like to read exactly what I like. However, the fact that her novel isn’t a true Romance is not my main grip. As I said, I can work around things if I have to and $8 is not too much of a biggie to waste. My main troubles with LEn are as followed:
1. Cormia as Phury’s chosen mate although after LU I should have gotten over it but didn’t. Although I am not a fan of the virgin heroine (sorry just don’t know many over twenty-five that are), I work around it in romance b/c it’s how most writers write them. Cormia has lives in stasis her whole life and knows absolutely nothing. Phury’s a junkie and has junkie issues not to mention the stalker thing with Bella. They did not have enough time in the book IMO to join and fall in love. Perhaps fall in lust. And I don’t read romance for people to fall in lust –I read my erotica for that. I think someone mentioning how he was able to just readjust the whole job description of Primale as being a cop-out. I agree and actually would have went for their storyline better if he would have done his job b/c according to Ward, the brothers were allowed to have more than one mate. Cormia could’ve remained his favorite girl.
2. The issue of Phury being in love with Bella –not truly address. Perhaps I misread the other books and misinterpreted his feelings for her.
3. The Brothers treatment of him and his addiction. There was more support for Rhages’ beast than for Phury. For a series based on the their unity and support, they sure left him high (very) and dry.
4. The multiple POV’s. Why so many? I can get with three or four and not be confused but with so many voices, I am lost.
5. Blay and Qhuinn –please don’t do this to me. Although I did root for B/V relationship, I did so b/c the two love was shown through like three or so books. Blay and Qhuinn feels like Wards’ forcing me to transfer my feelings for B/V relation on Blay/Qhuinn.
6.Rhev and his issues. I liked Rhev but I am tired of so many dysfunctional, maladjusted characters –why couldn’t at least one of her characters have a normal life.
7. The females –weak, TSTL and have no greater purpose than to lay on their back. But they always been that way. Always. The Chosen –if another have a book, I will throw up although I am fairly certain if she does continue with the series at least one IMO will have it (Layla).
8. Lassiter –I did know who he was b/c I use to be apart of her MB (don’t shoot me) however, I was kind of thrown by his appearance in the book –it didn’t flow.
9. The typos –I don’t blame her particularly but I do wonder if perhaps she should bribe her copy editor (I think that’s the person) so they can do better.
10. Her use of slag –grr. Always an issue for me, especially since everyone considers it hip-hop. Perhaps it’s because I am from the south (they may speak differently in the north), but no grown man I know talks like that and majority are fans of rap and hip-hop. Addtionally, the name-brand –too much. A little is okay for me b/c it’s set in a contemporary time but I always believe to state the name of a shoe versus an actual description is a little lazy.
All in all, I will probably read more of her books but not buy any of them (think checking them out at the library or skimming through them at B&N;to see if what I thought happens, happened) esp. if they are in hardcover. Just isn’t worth the money. P.S. you aren’t allowed to critize on the MB too heavily. That is a big no-no.
It’s funny, a couple of people now have mentioned the nitpicky problems I had.. Since part of my job is editing, the questions without question marks and the poor word choices *killed* me. Ward really does need a better editor.
Part of my job involves editing too, but I would. have. been. OK. with the Shatner-speak if: (1) it would have happened once or twice, tops and (2) it only happened with one character. I think there’s a case to be made for this kind of word use as indicative of a character’s voice. It was just over-used.
Referring to the lack of prisons as a problem with the “penile system” deserves a place on the All Time Top Ten List of Editing Groaners.
It surprises me that no one has mentioned the scenes with Phury and Z as brothers. Or the scenes with Z and Bella and Z’s anguish over Bella’s failing heath and his worry over the young. These scenes were featured prominently in this book – yet 2 books ago, Ward informed her readers that Z and Bella have a baby girl named Nalla and that both Bella and Nalla survive. So how are we supposed to invest in what should have been emotional scenes when the outcome has already been given?
This. Really. Bothered. Me. The multiply use of sentences structured that way, the text messaging, the slang that the Brother’s use, the constant name dropping of designer duds. Were we reading a book or a catalog? Who really cares what kind of shoes, or watch or suit someone has on? You would think at some point an editor or two might have pointed this out.
As to her website – can we say “rabid fans”? It is so weirdly creepy that Ward posts on the boards as the Brothers and that the people who post there “talk” to them as though they were real. And talk about hard to follow – the board is a maze of crap and if you are not inner circle you will never navigate your way in or out. There is so much that she gives away on the boards, that if you don’t post there you have no idea what is coming – but she also gives away whole plot lines and up-coming story stuff that if you read it all, you really wouldn’t even need to buy the books. Just last week she posted that Phury has a son named Aghony, whom they call Aggie. Mating ceremonies are no longer part of the books – they occur on the boards, births of children, and then the naming ceremonies are held there as well. And introduction of new characters, who then drop into the books fully fleshed out, no explainaton given. I don’t have the time or the inclination to scour her boards for story lines necessary to the books.
About Z and Bella…
While everything else you mention bugged me too, this not so much. I actually liked that we get to see the continuing road that will lead to their HEA. On the one hand, without these scenes, the resolution of Z and Bella would have seemed too easy considering everything he’s been through. On the other hand, if I had to slog through continued problems without that “Care Bear Epilogue” from 2 books ago, I’d be frustrated.
On the one hand, I didn’t mind that Z and Bella’s issues over pregnancy were there, just because if that was happening then yeah, Phury would be a part of the worry. (ok, I really, I probably just wanted more Z). I did not like it because 1. Phury has like five scenes- when you waste them on Bella/Z you lose even more of a chance for some lovin with Cormia; 2. We already know what’s gonna happen so seriously, stop spending so much time trying to get us worked up about her “Dangers”; 3. Not that interesting of a subplot, period.
As for Blay/Qhuinn making up for V/Butch, on the one hand I completely agree, and on the other I don’t care because that last scene was the most romantic of the story. Though I do think she just kind of thought of it and threw it in. 🙂
As far as “Bella’s” high risk ever present pregnancy is concerned, well… “Doc Jane” to the rescue!!!
“Doc Jane”, is a spirit of many talents – corporeal or incorporeal – what ever suits the moment. In Lover Enshrined, she performs splenectomies, resuscitates unsuspecting overdosed drug addicted vampires, and, tends to Bella’s high risk, traumatic pregnancy. Now when she was not a spirit in Lover Unbound, this Trauma Room – Emergency Room physician, performed cardiothoracic surgery on an individual not of her species and, as well did facial reconstructive surgery under local anesthesia no less. Yes, quite a talent that “Doc Jane”. I know this is fantasy – but really!!!
Another character that drove me “nuts” in the book.
The point is too, you all are quite correct, the outcome of Bella’s childbirth was already well known by readers because she let the cat or baby out of the bag at the end of Lover Awakened.
Okay. So I’m gonna try and do justice to what I felt after reading it (and feel after much discussion). And I haven’t read any other comments here. Sorry. There’s just too many by the time I saw the blog
I love this book. I think it’s a great addition to the series.
I knew when the book opened who the Omega’s son was. And I love him as a lesser. Adds a whole new dimension to the war, and makes it a bit more personal.
I loved the development of the relationship between Phury and Cormia. I thought it was extremely well done. Phury’s an addict. He can’t be wooing someone when he’s got those sort of issues to deal with. Cormia’s lived for so long in a world of no sensations, completely doused in white. They’ve both got issues to work through, and while we didn’t see a lot of the “wooing” we saw a lot of them working towards each other, and recognizing their feelings for each other. I thought it was very well done, and very much in character for them both. I loved seeing Cormia develop as an individual. And while there were plenty of times that I wanted to smack Phury upside the head, I loved seeing him work through his problems ON HIS OWN (because in my opinion that was they only way it was ever going to work permanently). I really loved the scene where Phury is drawing what he believes to be Bella, but it’s really Cormia. I was so happy that he knew even though he wasn’t will to accept it. The movie scene, and the pool scene were great. I thought they advanced their relationship together, while other scenes advanced them as individuals so they could be together.
Regarding the Brothers kicking Phury out of the Brotherhood, and then out of the mansion. I just don’t see how there was any other choice. Phury was a liability to himself and others, he was a liar and a user. And that wasn’t going to change – as evidenced by him bringin H into the house and OD’ing. And asking Z for an apology? C’mon. What was he expecting? First I was kinda annoyed that he even asked for one. That’s not how it works in my family. I don’t need, or expect, thanks for what I do for those I love. Yeah, it’s nice, but not needed. And in My Opinion he was using that as another excuse for his addiction.
JM & Xhex. OMG! HOT! I was never sure about them to begin with. But after reading LEn, I love the idea of them together. I love how Xhex is a little off balance with JM, when she’s usually so in control. The scene in the bathroom with the paper towel. Wow. *fans self* Loved seeing that confidence in JM.
Qhuinn & Blay. HOT. I’m firmly on the Team Blay/Qhuinn. One because I think they’re great together. I do not feel that they are another V/Butch at all. Yes, it’s two males “in” the Brotherhood – but the feel is different for me.
JM, Blay, Qhuinn. I loved all their interactions. This was the first book where they really came to life for me. One of the many things LEn did well (for me) was make me very excited to read beyond Rehv’s book. Up until LEn, Rehv’s book was the last one I was really interested in….and I can’t say the same now.
Rehv. *sigh* What can I say about this HOT male of worth. I’ve loved him ever since we met him. I love him even more now. Lassiter’s line: “The righteous do not always do right, but their souls remain pure. You are untainted at your core.” *sigh* Sums Rehv up perfectly for me. As for what he has to do with the Princess. Ugh. Yuck. *shudder* I can’t wait until he gets his HEA and doesn’t have to deal with that anymore!! I loved how he put the fear of Rehv into the dude at the beginning for beating up one of his girls. And the flashback scene with Bella (Rooster :D)
Lassiter I absolutely loved. I didn’t expect to. He was a just sorta “there” character for me, until the line with the Big Mac’s in the cave. “Look, if your brain’s forgotten how to eat, just open that mouth of yours. I’ll cram this f****r in and we’ll see if your teeth remember what to do.” Made me laugh out loud! LOVED it.
And I’m so glad that Tohr’s back. The scene of him and JM hugging seriously made me cry.
I really enjoyed the changes with the Chosen. And the developments with the war and world that happened in this book. And it’s left me counting down the days until May already.
Okay, I read it (read: inhaled it) in about 8 hours while on vacation. I know a lot of others did not like the POV switches (although, she did break it up very well, so it didn’t bother me), but honestly… I think it was necessary to pull in the different sub-plots. I normally don’t like a lot of sub-plots and just want it to focus on the HEA story but in this case with this series… I was glad I had them. My gut tells me she is leading up to something BIG. It was like she needed this stuff in there to give us a glimpse of some MAJOR stuff coming up… I seriously could not put this book down. I don’t know if I’d give it a five star review, but it’s pretty close. I honestly feel it was her best book yet, which I totally was not expecting and I’m sure that others will NOT agree with me.
I was totally blown away by Lash being the Omega’s son (I wondered if it was Qhuinn), I was intrigued by what (not just WHO) Lassiter is, Blay’s confession, Thor’s return.
Again, I couldn’t put the book down!
I do think she is setting this up for Rehvenge’s book and in time for a hard cover debut. I can’t help but feel that Rehvenge will play a pivotal role in this war between the vampires and the lessers. The vampires seem to be losing ground and there are so few fighters left among the brothers. They even have to rely on new recruits to help them. So I think alliances needs to be formed. And in LEn, we get to know about the symphath colony, w/ Rehvenge’s uncle being crowned, the princess wanting him to come back and lead them. If Rehvenge decides to do just that, he could use his position as a bargaining chip with the vampires, get some sort of compromises regarding the treatment of the symphaths and they in turn will ally themselves to the vampires and help them fight the lessers. And Rehvenge was also elected leader by the council. He has some leverage and I think, with the support of the brothers, he can achieve this.
That said, aside from the romance of Phury & Cormia, I did enjoy LEn so I’m curious to know how the situation will be when the next book comes out. There’s a lot of things that Ward needs to address about Rehvenge – his being a drug dealer, addict, pimp, his committing patricide, how to straddle the delicate balance between that of vampire and symphath, etc..so I won’t be expecting much on Rehvenge’s romance with Ehlena. With all that complications, the other subplots and the fact that I feel that Ward has failed so miserably regarding the romance aspect twice already, my hopes are not that high.
The best romantic scenes in the last three books were between two men. I was disappointed that the scenes between Butch and V were treated as shameful but was glad Blay and Quinns scene turned out a bit better. hottest scene in the the book btw.
I’m hoping that blay gets hurt and Quinn has to take care of him in the next book because in JRW’s world that always leads to love. Over all a good beach read and LE has been added to my book shelf.
Read the book twice already and loved it. I understand how fans can be disappointed when authors change direction. LKH said to her fans “if you don’t like my new books, don’t read them”.
That said I think authors should take it on the chin when fans get mad. To me books are WAY MORE IMPORTANT than TV now. I love the worlds the different authors create and sometimes hate them to destroying perfectly good characters etc.
I think all this discussion about a book, all this feeling is all good! There are more readers out there today than ever before.
I ADHORE JOHN MATTHEW. I loved his story and that of Qhinn and Blaylock. But I still love JM the most. I’ve actually loved him since the very beginning, but I really fell for him this time! I’m not really into him being with Xhex, but I’ll live with it. I think he’d work more with someone gentler (like me!), but I trust JR to do something fab with this storyline. I love that kid though. I’d so hit that! (I can say that with no guilt because I’m actually younger than him – no cradle robbing there!)
I really loved this Book – sometimes and I ‘ve read it twice.. I’m not an native english speaker, but that was not the point for reading it twice, it was the thrill.
I did enjoy the rhevenge-part mingling with that “alien”-queen, the boys story – great!!!, the evil prince theme.
But to say it clear, please – no more chosen. These chosen are boring as hell: A waste of time, the whole storyline, even the sex/erotic sections were boring and Phury.. a lame duck..
I also was quite not amused about this fallen angel – trash, trash, trash at it’s worst. He does not fit in the vampire-lesser-human world. Where did he come from? Do we need him? I don’t think so.
But the book shows some interesting possibilities for new couples, dangerous relationships, fight, blood and thrill such as:
son of the evil and this “bad ass” sister of vishious, john and t.. So I will read on.
I’m not so much into romance, if romance is the one and only theme. So I liked the last 2 books better than the first.
id give the book 3/5 for JM, Quinn and Blay
the last 2 books have lost that element that keeps me enthralled, the first 4 books literally had me compulisvely turning the pages to find out what happens, i would realise hours later i was starving and half the days was gone.
V’s book and Phury’s book, while interesting and have more world building and character developement – im still feeling a tad depressed with them.
i hope Rhev’s book doesnt have as much head hopping in it, as i think thats what was wrong with V’s and Phurys book.
V – Jane and Phury – Cormia need more page time to develope their relationship, to much information can be harmful to the feelings and flow of a novel.
I loved this last book. Its one of my favourites in the series and Im so over the trad. romance shtick that this series is refreshing. I see how its not PNR and more and more UF so maybe Im more of a UF kind of gal.
Look forward to the next novel.
I hate to skip around, so I’m only on page 227. I used to devour these books within hours of purchase, but Phury was never a fave and as interesting as the trainees are getting, they might as well be junior varsity football players during my senior year of hs.
I didn’t love LR or LU, but breezed through both because of the Butch-V thing and suggestions of an intriguing situation if Jane was somehow Butch’s sister. And then there was Manuelo and questions about Butch’s real dad.
I’ll probably finish LEn in the next week or so, but future BDB novels will be library reads for sure. I’ll make a decision about the compendium once I see its contents.
Well, here’s my opinion for what it’s worth…I just love it when I find a new romance author. It makes me happy – waiting for a new book to come out and just KNOWING it’s going to be great. So, I was completely freaking thrilled when I picked up the BDB series – just loved them!! Then they started slowly laming out. It’s not that I hate JR Ward and curse her with multiple, painful, itching infestations because I think the books have moved away from the great romances they were (hat tip to rabid, psycho fans). It’s just that I’m disappointed that the latest books in the series aren’t the great romances that the books in the beginning were. I love romance novels!! I want to read fantastic, rocking romance!! It was great to find a new author that did that. It kind of bums me that she isn’t going that route anymore. Oh well – someone else will come along. I read about 3 to 5 books a week. I use them for relaxation and escapism (exercise takes too much work). It just seems that lately my go-to authors are churning out lame novels. So, I guess that I can feel for the readers that are pissed that they used to be able to go to the BDB series for a great read and now can’t. I LOVED the series, but now that it isn’t really romance I won’t be reading it. That doesn’t mean that I want Ward’s head on a platter – I’ll just go somewhere else for my romance fix.
I have read like 20 comments on this entry… I’m not buying the book.
I know how JR can solve ALL her problems…
Her series has simply out grown ONE book at a time, if she wrote all the sub plots in a novella inbetween each book then A) her fans would be happy with another book each year. B) She could concentrate soley on her characters and give them the romance they deserve and C) She could do her world building in the Novella and make us all crave the next book, great promo tool 🙂
for eg
if John Mathews, Blays etc thread was put in a Novella then it would of opened up about another 50-100pgs for Phury and Cormia.
My main problem with the books was the head hopping and the lack of developement with Phury and Cormia.
I waited for this book, I rushed out and bought this book on the morning it was released. I sat down and read it straight through. By halfway through I was annoyed, frustrated, and confused. Way too much going on in this book for me to really care about all of it at once. Some of the subplots were too drawn out and seemed unnecessary.
The Brothers were a disapointment, where was the closeness, the comraderie, the “family”? John, Blay, and Qhuinn became the story. Interesting, but why make them the focus of the book? They seemed to be taking over. I felt that Wrath and the Brotherhood gave up, or stopped responding, all the way around. They looked kind of ineffectual at dealing with everything, including Phury. Honestly, by the end of the book, I didn’t much care about any of them. I didn’t feel anything for Cormia and Phury. Especially with the weak and unsatisfying resolution. The journey wasn’t interesting and frankly didn’t make sense. Too many detours.
When J.R Ward started this series I was completely caught up in the story and characters. I won’t say I’m done with this series but I have lost interest in what happens to them. I probably will continue to read the books, eventually, when I find them at a used book store. I don’t feel the need to run out and pay full price. I don’t think I want to see this series go down in flames. It’s too sad. Truly disappointing.