This review contains a lot of spoilers so please read at your own risk. You have been warned. Please don't blame me. :) When the last laudation had been murmured he switched back into English. “I was dead until you found me, though I breathed. I was sightless, though I could see. And then you came….and I was awakened”.Best. Book. Ever.There really are no words to describe how I feel about this book. It was beyond beautiful! Lover Awakened is an amazing tale and is now one of my favourite books that I have read....EVER! In this installment to the series, J. R. Ward tells the agonizingly painful story of Zsadist, a former blood (and sex) slave and likely the most feared member of the Brotherhood. We were introduced to Bella, our heroine, in book 2 of the series. Bella has been kidnapped by the Lessers and Z eventually finds her and rescues her from the torture facility. Once rescued, Bella refuses to leave Z’s side and as she relies on his strength and the security she now finds with him despite who he is and how daunting he comes across. It is with Bella’s love and fortitude that this reluctant hero ultimately “awakens”. I will readily admit that their journey to a HEA is a bumpy ride – one that left me in tears, both of joy and sadness as we witness Z's transformation from an emotional ghost into a male who can finally find love and happiness. “Ruined, not broken.....”Zsadist is without a doubt one of the most tortured heroes I’ve ever read about and I will forever compare him to future tortured heroes I read about. He simply broke me and my heart shattered continuously while reading his story. His deep feelings of un-worth and self-hatred tore me to shreds! Despite his hardness and complete lack of regard for those around him (including Bella at times), I could not help but fall for him and when his vulnerability came through his rough demeanor I was even more of a goner. I found the moments where Z let himself be vulnerable the most heartbreaking to read about. Even writing this review, my heart still aches for him! That is simply great writing on Ward’s part!As she carefully dried off his ragged flesh, she said, "You are clean.""Oh, no, I'm not. I'm really not." His voice started to rise, a terrible momentum growing "I'm filthy. I am so very dirty. I am dirty, dirty..." Now he babbled, the words running together, the volume lifting until hysteria pinged off the tiles and filled the bathroom. "Can you see the dirt? I see it everywhere. It coats me. It seals me in..."Scenes like this literally wrecked me! Phury.....Another aspect that I loved about this book is that there was so much more than Z’s and Bella’s story that touched me and made me feel. Phury was a big part of why I will forever love Lover Awakened. We get more of his back story with Z and there is so much more to him than we can possibly imagine. I loved the healing that took place between Z and Phury at the end. Gah.....can my heart break anymore....yes, it did!Every day Phury slept alone, if he slept at all. Food gave him little pleasure. Females were out because of his celibacy. And every second he was worried about what Zsadist would pull next and who would get hurt in the process. He felt like he was dying from a thousand cuts, slowly bleeding out. A target by proxy for all his twin's murderous intent.*********Phury knelt beside him and stroked his face. "I've only ever had you to live for. If you die I have nothing I'm utterly lost. And you are needed here."Zsadist tried to reach out, but couldn't lift her arms are Phury stood up."God Z, I keep thinking this tragedy of ours is going to be over. But it just keeps going doesn't it?" The Brotherhood.....I loved reading more about the connection between the Brothers. It is real, intense and they truly are a deep rooted family. Even though I am sure the Brothers have a hard time with Z, they are there for him and fight with him (and for him).Zsadist stared at the males who were behind him. And he the oddest thought that if he were to let himself go limp and fall backward...they would catch him.I simply can not emphasize enough how much I truly LOVED this book. I am unable to give Lover Awakened enough accolades. If you have not read this series.... DO IT! Enough said! I have to end with my favourite scene in Lover Awakened. I will go as far as saying this is one of the best scenes ever.He glanced back down at the pencil in his hand and then turned to the table. Flipping the spiral notebook to a new page, he bent way over and labored on top of the paper for quite a while. Then he ripped the sheet free.His hand was shaking as he held it out. "It's messy."Bella took the paper. In a child's uneven block letters there were three words: I LOVE YOUHer lips flattened tight as her eyes stung. The handwriting got wavy and then disappeared."Maybe you can't read it," he said in a small voice. "I can do it over."She shook her head. "I can read it just fine. It's… beautiful.""I don't expect anything back. I mean… I know that you don't… feel that for me anymore. But I wanted you to know. It's important that you knew. And if there's any chance we could be together… I can't stop my job with the Brotherhood. But I can promise that I'll be so much more careful with myself—" He frowned and stopped talking. "Shit. What am I saying? I promised myself I wouldn't put you in this position—"She crushed the paper to her heart, then launched herself at him, hitting his chest so hard he stumbled back. As his arms came around her with hesitation, as if he didn't have any idea what she was doing or why, she wept openly.In all her preparations for this meeting, the one thing she had never considered was that the two of them might have some sort of future.When he tilted up her chin and looked down at her she tried to smile, but the crazy hope she felt was too heavy and joyous a burden."I didn't mean to make you cry—""Oh, God… Zsadist, I love you."His eyes flared so wide, his brows nearly hit his hairline. "What… ?""I love you.""Say that again.""I love you.""Again… please," he whispered. "I need to hear it… again.""I love you…"His response was to start praying to the Scribe Virgin in the Old Language.Holding Bella tight, burying his face in her hair, he gave thanks with such eloquence she started to weep all over again.When the last laudation had been murmured he switched back into English. "I was dead until you found me, though I breathed. I was sightless, though I could see. And then you came… and I was awakened."SIDE NOTE: This has to be the first book where I wished I was a vampire. After Ward's description of the "needing", who wouldn't want to be a vampire. Holy! :)
'You’re path out of hell is waiting for you.'So my love affair with the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues with the story of Zsadist and Bella.I absolutely adore Zsadist, he could be my favourite, just don't tell the brotherhood, because I'd like to try them all!! Oh yes!! ♥ ♥ ♥Zsadist is a tortured soul; he feels impure and has a past that is simply heartbreaking. It gets me right in the heart, a big strong man who has troubles to overcome.A man who wants to please a woman, is very pleasing to read ♥ 'Wanted to lie by her side and kiss her. Wanted….. to do it all to her, the kissing and the touching and the sucking and the licking.'All the brotherhood are alpha men and they ooze hotness and sex appeal which gives us a panty dripping read...in this book we have the Needing, Bella's Needing….(the brotherhood are adorable when they discuss it between themselves, lol) The Needing is THE fertile time for the ladies; it only happens once every 5 years and let me tell you... Painful...NEED...WANT...DESIRE...Excruciating...URGES......doesn't even come close to describing the ladies desperate need for a man and someone to ease the throbbing pain of sexual need between their legs!! And any man in the vicinity has a sudden desperate need for action.....wowza, it was so SEXY...I hope to experience the Needing again, PLEASE ♥ It gives want and desire a whole new meaning ♥ I loved finding out more about Bella and her character; her story with Zsadist, is truly beautiful.We also learn more about Zsadist's brother Phury and the trials and tribulations they have been through together all adding layers, character development and fabulous depth to the story.Phury is an amazing brother to Zsadist and so very, very wise.The author is all the time cleverly interweaving the story of the other brothers, giving us insight into their characters and stories, setting us up for our next thrilling instalment. I feel like J R Ward has sprinkled some magic on the Brotherhood series to make them addictive. I really enjoy them all the way through but from just before the half way mark, and that has been the case for all three books, I literally can’t put them down…real life gets in my way big time. Intensity passion, fierce unbreakable, bonding love....ahhhh....they are a beautiful, sexy read and Lover Awakened is my favourite so far. ♥♥TRUE ♥ BR with The Pinks....you feel me?
What do You think about Lover Awakened (2006)?
This book is pretty darn awesome. Zsadist is definitely one to seduce a reader if you love tortured, sexy heroes. The only disadvantage is too much Lesser narrative. Otherwise I love it! It is full of passages that wrench at your heart as you read Zsadist's sad but ultimately triumphant story. You really root for Zsadist to accept the unconditional love that Bella has for him, as you see him give all of himself to her because he cannot help but love her, even believing he is far from good enough for her. And the relationship is not one-sided as Zsadist helps Bella to heal from her captivity with the Lesser. He is the only one that can help her through this ordeal. But long before she was kidnapped, she was drawn to Zsadist. You see the seeds of their connection start in Lover Eternal, and to be honest, that's what made me keep reading Lover Eternal. I was so fascinated by the interaction between essentially The Beauty and the Beast played out in this sophistocated, urban vampire universe. I knew that their relationship would be explosive and captivating, and I was right. The scenes of Bella and Zsadist during her needing are enthralling and sexual, but also tender and poignant. I don't think any man could love a woman more than Zsadist loves Bella. The ending will make the sternest, most cold-hearted person tear up as Zsadist very clearly shows just how much Bella means to him. And the gift that Bella gives Zsadist is just the icing on the cake. This is a wonderful love story.
— Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja)
I cannot rave enough about the beauty in this book. I have read countless books about broken heroes and yet Zsadist will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the love of a woman that truly set him free.Z's story began when he was just an little boy. He was stolen from his home and taken away from his twin.One boy raised in luxury. Loved and adored by his parents. The other boy stolen in the night and sold into blood and sexual slavery.The damage done to his emotional well being left him empty, hard, and brutal to everyone around him."He thought about all the holes in him, the blank places, the voids where others felt things. When it came down to it, he was really just a screen, more empty than solid, his emotions blowing through him, only the anger catching and holding." At the end of Lover Eternal, the second book in this series, Bella (Mary's friend) had been abducted by some lessers. Bella had made quite an impression on Z. She was able to see through his rock solid heart and wiggle her way through to his soul. Bella is in trouble. She is being held captive and living though unthinkable abuse. Everyone fears that she is dead and yet Z continues to go to her house. He keeps it clean. When he discovers where she is, nothing will stop him from getting her back. He gets her back and carries her straight to his bed. He is like a wild dog protecting his last piece of food. He won't let anyone touch her. "Z’s lips peeled off his fangs, a growl launching out of his mouth. Phury’s head snapped up. “Why are you acting like this?” She’s mine, Z thought."Even now that he has Bella, he is afraid to really let her in. He is repulsed by any sexual contact with anyone and cannot stand to be touched, Meanwhile Phury, Z's twin, has also grown an great fondness for Bella. Bella feels safe with Z. She is falling in love with Z. He was so broken...but he was her broken."Zsadist’s arms were propped on the sink, his head hanging low. He was breathing uneasily and looked fevered, his skin slick, his stance unnaturally stiff. “What, nalla,” he said in a hoarse whisper. She stopped, unsure she’d heard him right. But she had…. Beloved. He’d called her beloved." When Z and Bella come together, it is like nothing I have ever read. The primal attraction between the two is beyond intense. The abuse that Z endured has really tainted every aspect of his life. Bella spends so much time raining love down on him. Z gives himself to Bella over and over again. He knows that nothing can last between the two of them and yet he will always protect her and care for her.“I won’t leave you,” he said. “No matter how long, no matter how many times. I’ll serve you and let you take my vein until it’s over. I will not abandon you.”-ZBella and Z's story was full of push and pull. Tension and release. The reader is left rooting for these two. You pray for healing for Z and eternal love and happiness for Bella and Z. I found the action in this story to be well timed. Bella turns out to be quite the kick ass heroine. (Don't we all love a strong woman?) There was enough storyline running in the background to keep the focus on Bella and Z but the supporting plots still developing in the peripherally. Beautiful writing with heart and passion! If you love a great romantic read with some grit, damage, and sweet victory, check out this series and especially this book! Bella and Z are two special characters that you will never forget!“I was dead until you found me, though I breathed. I was sightless, though I could see. And then you came… and I was awakened.”-Z
—Elizabeth
Gabriella ♥ Liam Callahan's girl ♥ wrote: "Noara wrote: "Gabriella ♥ Liam Callahan's girl ♥ wrote: "Noara wrote: "Awesome review as usual hon!!this book is my second favorite in the series:-)"Second fav ? Which was your best Hun ?!?!"B..."Best of luck hon!!hope you will love this series as much i do:-)
—Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness
