Zemfirka Blogs

Book lover, reviewer, blogger... <3


Visit me @ Zemfirka Blogs or Nocturnal Book Reviews

 

***

I read a variety of genres but tend to favor romantic fiction, whether paranormal, steampunk, or historical. Some dystopian, UF, and even an occasional mystery might make their way onto my reading list. Otherwise, anything that sounds quirky and fun goes! :)

 

Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)

Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward The second story in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series explores Rhage’s story and his sudden new human love – Mary. Indeed, this was a much sadder storyline, compared to that told in the first book, and even though I found this book an improvement over the first one, it was still quite silly.

In this story, Rhage, or Hollywood as the brothers nicknamed him, suddenly falls in love with a human woman who happens to be at the “vampire mansion” one night. At first (couple meetings that it is) it is purely lust, but soon after Rhage discovers that Mary makes him feel rather different than the rest of the women do and we have another case of insta-love. All Rhage wants to do thereafter is protect Mary from the rest of the world, and have sex… oh! And he doesn’t quite take rejection well, because every time Mary tries to reject him (for personal reasons) he practically throws a tantrum. Aside, from this silliness, and looking past the “thug” language that’s been adopted by the brothers for no apparent reason (cause they are supposed to be centuries old and thus begs a question: why adopt the most annoying vernacular?) I found Rhage to be a more interesting character, more so than Wrath.

As for Mary, I do believe the intention of her character was to compel us to feel for her condition – as she has leukemia. She is a poor human, who has nothing much to offer in the looks’ department, as she was robbed of them by the treatments for her disease, and which left her infertile as well. Her mother passed away and overall Mary’s life is not looking too optimistic as the disease, that was in remission has come back.

Meeting Rhage comes on the verge of Mary’s discovery of the return of her illness, and even though at first Mary tries to push him away, fearing she would not like to have him watch her illness progress, she then comes around – running straight into his arms. The Cinderalla moments aside the two make it to their HEA at end; with some sacrifices and the taming of the beast, Mary is saved by the Scribe Virgin – who is not as cruel after all.

Even though I was happy that Rhage was not left sad and lonely for the rest of “eternity” I found the ending disappointing. For some reason, I’ve never found myself sympathetic towards Mary, she was a too predictable sad character, that all of a sudden gotten a convenient reprieve at the end. In fact, I think it would have been mildly more interesting if she didn’t take Scribe Virgin’s deal but instead came to live her few last month with Rhage, and then had him move on to someone else after… That wouldn’t have been an expected end, would it?

I have to admit, even though, I keep blabbing about all the silliness that these books boast – I still keep reading. It can, in fact be an addicting read, but even so some moments in this novel just had me rolling my eyes.

- I have to say that the thug vernacular just kills half of the storylines. It might have been fun the first time around, but it’s time to end it for good. There is no good reason for them to talk in such a way, when they are not originally of that time to begin with. Although, surprisingly in this novel the characters seemed to slip in and out of it quite inconsistently, which again begs a question: why not talk in normal way?!
- The names are only mildly annoying at this point, but the constant references as to male, female, mate, etc. just keep making me think I’m reading of animals. I know they are vampires, but do they have to do the whole “my female” thing?
- I’m not going to touch upon their dress code of leathers and shitkickers... but in all seriousness, really? Isn’t it enough that they are all picture perfect, hot, lethal, and always looking for either fight or sex?
- And then we come to the lessers... because they are the most annoying and incapable villains ever, who are pale, impotent, and smell of baby powder. Huh? You have me believe that these men really volunteer to serve the Omega just to be able to hunt some vampires? Besides, they make the most feeble attempts at threatening the brothers, and I’ve dreaded to read every time I came upon those sections of the book that concerned the lessers.

On to the third book then…

Currently reading

My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories
David Lebovitz
An Echo in the Bone
Diana Gabaldon
Tangled (Tangled, #1)
Emma Chase
The Bronze Blade: An Elemental World Novella
Elizabeth Hunter