Lover Avenged

Black Dagger Brotherhood #7

by J.R. Ward

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood—even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him—and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adult

527 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2009

About the author

J.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Sin Eater Stars

First read 2014
Reread April 3 2017

“Life is such a glorious trauma, is it not?”-Wrath



Spoilers

Lover Avenged is the 7th book in the BDB series and it was a good read with tons going on. I'm going to keep this review short and sweet so I can get to my John Matthews' book right away. Rehvenge and Ehlena were both cute and likable. I loved how playful, vulnerable, and tender Rehv was with Ehlena. Ehlena was sweet but she did make me angry for a bit when she didn't stand by her man. I get that he lied to her and she was hurt but it took her a whole month to come around. A month was too long. Rehv and Ehlena's relationship was a slow burn but had a nice build up as they spend time together but didn't have a ton of sex because of Rehv's sympath side.

“No matter what you wear... to me, you will always have diamonds on the soles of your shoes.” -Rehv



"He seemed so fragile as he gave himself up to her, and she realized that if anyone tried to hurt him, even though he could more than take care of himself, she would commit murder. To protect him, she would kill. The conviction was as solid as the bones beneath her skin: Even the powerful needed protection sometimes."-Ehlena

I have to say that sympath stuff was interesting but not very detailed, so I was left with some question. There was too damn much Lash and the Lessers shit in this book. I didn't give one rat's ass about them. I was bored everything time they were on the pages. I took a star off my rating for the overabundance of Lash/Lessers. We readers got our first taste of Payne and I'm loving her. I loved Wrath and Beth in this book. Poor Wrath went fully blind and the way it was handled was both heartbreaking and beautiful. Tohr was back and trying to slowly piece his life back together. I was really upset with Tohr and the way he was with John Matthew for half this book. He was just so closed off and it ripped JM's heart out. Lassiter was great. I loved all the funny ass interactions between Lassiter and all the brothers. John Matthew really hit rock bottom in this book. Not that I don't totally understand where he was coming from but it was sad to read especially the parts with him and Xhex. I really loved getting to know Xhex more in this book. My heart broke for both her and JM. And OMG when Xhex was taken by Lash I was flipping. I know my John Matthew will get his woman back but damn I hate Lash. Overall a great read that needed less Lash.

Below a few of my favorite quotes:

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, don’t look at me like that.” Rhage recovered first. “I can’t help it. You’re just so sexy in those baggy-ass pants. I got to get me a pair, ‘cause nothing says hotness like wearing what looks like two Heftys stitched together at your racket and balls.” Lassiter nodded. “Totally craptastic. Sign my sac up for some of that.”- Tohr, Rhage, and Lassiter


“John Matthew was her well of soul, as the symphaths called it,or her pyrocant, to the vampires. Her essential weakness.”-Xhex


“Oh, man there's a marathon of Beaches running tomorrow night. Can we go after ten so I can see it once all the way through?" Everyone in the room turned to the blond-and-black haired guy, who was propped in the corner, massive arms over his chest. What," he said. "Look, it's not Mary Tyler Moore, 'kay? So you can 't give me shit." Vishous, the one with the black glove on his hand, glared across the room. "It's worse than Mary Tyler Moore. And to call you and idiot would be an insult to half-wits around the world." Are you kidding me? Bette Midler rocks. And I love the ocean. Sue me." Vishous glanced at the king. "You told me I could beat him. You promised." As soon as you come home," Wrath said as he got to his feet, "we'll hang him up by his armpits in the gym and you can use him as a punching bag." Thank you, baby Jesus." Blond-and-Black shook his head. "I swear, one of these days I'm going to leave." As one, the Brothers all pointed to the open door and let silence speak for itself. You guys suck.” -Lassiter,Vishous, and Wrath

[Auntee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, just excellent. JR Ward is back with a vengeance! For anyone who was disappointed with the previous two books in the BDB series, I urge you not to give up on it--“Lover Avenged” is every bit as good a book as the first four of the series. It’s got everything that you could want, starting with an outstanding hero and heroine in nightclub owner/ drug lord Rehvenge and nurse Ehlena. It’s a testimony to the author’s writing skills that she can make a drug lord, mobster pimp into one of her most endearing heroes ever! I absolutely adored Rehvenge, and I never thought I would say that. His character has always been so-so for me. But now that JR Ward has fleshed out his character, and we learn the WHY of who he is and why he’s done the things he has, I just could not resist him. I totally fell for the mohawked, sable-fur wearing hardass with a heart of gold. By the end of the book, he proved that he truly was a ‘male of worth’.

As for Ehlena, well, she may be my favorite heroine of the whole series. She was brave, compassionate, a caregiver for her mentally sick father, and most of all, forgiving. I wanted her to have everything I thought she deserved. And she took no crap from Rehvenge! But when she broke up with him it just about killed me, and I wasn’t too happy with her. It was funny because when they first started out she didn’t think she was good enough for him, but at the end the tables turned and Rehvenge insisted he wasn’t good enough for her. Clearly these two belonged together and were perfect for each other. They are one of my favorite couples of the entire series.

And Ward brought the romance back! Not with just Ehlena and Rehvenge, but as an added bonus the reader gets a renewed romance between Wrath and Beth. And both romances were sexy and super hot--no skimping on the details either. Whew, Beth and Wrath had one scene that took them under the desk and across the floor… And Rehvenge…well, he was one generous lover is all I can say without giving away spoilers. For fans of Lora Leigh’s Breeds series, you’ll be interested to know that there’s some common ground between Rehvenge and the Breeds…

About the plot…it’s pretty simple. It starts out four months after the previous book, and Wrath is secretly fighting again, while dealing with an increased loss in his vision. Being the King, fighting's a big no-no, but the ranks of the Brotherhood are depleted with Tohr gone and Phury involved with the Chosen. And the lessers have been on a raid all summer, killing and stealing from the glymera, and it looks like they’re making serious inroads in their war with the vampires. So Wrath is keeping secrets, which isn’t good for his marriage. And when Beth finds out she’s mad about the lying, and that places a serious strain on their relationship. Add to that a plot to get rid of (as in ‘kill’) and replace the King by some of the glymera, and it’s no wonder Wrath has one giant headache all the time.

Then we have nightclub owner, drug lord, and secret half-breed sympath Rehvenge, brother of Bella, who’s married to the Brother Zsadist. Rehvenge’s identity as part sympath is a closely guarded secret-- and it comes with a host of medical complications in order to suppress that side of him-- if it’s revealed he could be banished to a colony for these sociopaths. Rehvenge is getting blackmailed from a couple of people who know his true identity, and one of them wants him to go in on a plot to murder Wrath. Although they’re not exactly ‘friends, can he do that to Wrath and the Brothers?

Then Rehv meets a nurse at Dr. Havers clinic, the beautiful Ehlena, and sparks start to fly. Rehv is so drawn to her, but he can’t be honest with her. If she finds out who/what he is and what he has to do once a month with the vile scorpion princess (one of the most disgusting villains ever--straight out of a Stephen King horror novel), she would be repulsed. When it looks like destiny is leading Rehv on a clear path that can‘t include Ehlena, will he be strong enough to give up the one woman who brings light and hope to his increasingly lonely life?

Fans of the series will be happy to know that almost all the characters have at least a cameo appearance, except I don’t recall Marissa or Cormia mentioned except in passing. But no matter, all the Brothers are back, with their wisecracks and idiosyncrasies, including Tohr, who finally looks like he’ll be getting his act together. I loved the interaction between Tohr and Lassiter, the fallen angel who helped rescue him and sticks around a while with the Brothers. He has some of the funniest moments in the book--his fascination with “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and the Bette Midler movie "Beaches" and the brothers reaction to that had me laughing out loud!

There also is a mention of the character of Muhrder, who has a connection to Xhex (which I’m sure we’ll hear more about), a brief reappearance of Payne (who has an encounter with Wrath), Lash (who's back with a vengeance and is crucial to the plot) and an adorable new character, George.

There is lots of humor in the book, which helps relieve some of the tension that builds up in the plot. I laughed out loud many times--for example, when Butch called Wrath ‘Rapunzel’ (due to his long hair), or when Wrath questioned the effectiveness of a bullet-proof vest he was wearing because of how light it was, and V suggested he strap a garage door, or maybe a car, to his chest. There were LOTS of moments like that, and clearly, the brothers have not lost their sense of humor.

We also get to see where the series is headed with the new blood--John Matthew, Quinn, and Blay. John Matthew and his obsession, tough girl Xhex finally hook up, but sadly, it’s not all it could be. These two have a lot of growing up to do, because they spend most of their time in the book hurting themselves and each other. There’s way more than meets the eye with Xhex though, and the author gives us just a hint about her troubled past. She was a hard character to love, especially when she hurt John Matthew--I wanted to scratch her eyes out! But then as more and more of her background was revealed, I felt sorry for her and all that she went through in her life. She is a big part of the plot in this book, and because of where the story takes her, I’m sure she will be in the next book. Her situation and her relationship with John is clearly left unresolved.

This is a very long book (over 500 pages), but it moves along so fluidly you won’t notice the length. There were no spots where I was tempted to skip passages--I wanted to read every detail, although some were very gory. (What Xhex does to some creep who murdered his girlfriend…yuk!)

There’s quite a few plots going at one time, yet it never gets confusing. Frustrating, sometimes, when Ward leaves you hanging to switch to another plot just as things are heating up romantically with one of the couples, but that just makes you want to read faster!

And the conclusion? You’ll think maybe JR Ward had a little help from Stephen King, is all I’ll say. My, what an imagination.

As you can see, I loved this book. This ranks right up there with my favorites of the series, and I think Ward is in the groove again. I found this one extremely hard to put down, didn't want it to end, yet had to know the ending! Wrath and Rehvenge struggle with but finally accept their destinies, and it helps that they each have their true loves by their sides. I can’t wait to see where JR Ward takes us with this series--there’s lots more to tell! 5 Big Stars!

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s simple. I don’t think you should date anyone.” Rehv moved in even closer, until he could see the flecks of gold in her eyes. “But I’m not just anyone.”

Wow! I think I've found my new favorite BDB book!!!!! (Besides Z's, he will ALWAYS be #1)
My first read was great, I loved it, but it didn't stand out from the others. On my second read... Amazing!! One of my favorite books EVER, not just the BDB! It's totally surprising considering Rehv and the nasty business with his blackmailer, but I SOOO loved him! I loved the whole book! All the side characters were amazing! (except Lash, stupid moronic idiot who needs to DIE, ASAP!!!!!)
Anyway :D Loved it!!!




The story


With most of the glymera dead or hidden, there is a fight for power in the vampire world between those who are left behind, and their main obstacle is their king, Wrath.
Only four Brothers are left that are able to fight, which forces Wrath to get back on the streets and do some fighting on his own, even though it's forbidden because he is King.
Rehvenge is approached by a council member who wants to eliminate Wrath.
He has to deal with his club, his monthly visit to his blackmailer, his "illness" that needs more and more treatments, and now he has to decide where his loyalties lie.
One night at the clinic, waiting for his dopamine shots, he talks with "his" nurse, Ehlena :)
She isn't afraid of Rehv like all the others are, and is intrigued by him, but she knows that they are from two totally different worlds, so she refuses him when his flirtations get too high.
When Rehv's past and double life threaten the people he loves, he will be forced to make a difficult decision...

All I know is, life is too short not to come back here and be with you like this again. Life is just too short, and I like being with you too much for me to give a crap about anything other than having another moment like this.”
Rehvenge’s chest swelled as he stared at her. “Ehlena?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way.”
She drew in a deep breath and he saw her bare shoulders tighten. “Okay. I’ll try not to.”
“You keep showing up here? Being who you are?” There was a pause. “I’m going to fall in love with you.”

The story - Loved it! It was dark, it was f-ed up, emotional and full of surprises, with some action as well... Just fantastic :)))
The Brotherhood was forced to make some changes, as well as Wrath. We get to see into Rehv's universe, how it all works, and what he must do to protect his own.
The battle in the end was great, left with a little cliffie for the next book.

The characters - Even though this is Rehv's book, this one is focused on two more couples, Wrath/Beth and John/Xhex. They don't get THAT much page time, but they're there and we see their relationships progressing, some forward, some backwards.
Wrath/Beth - Wrath has been going out fighting alone, without anyone's knowledge, and that's something that will drive them apart when Beth finds out :((( He is dealing with headaches and loss of vision, and later on the attempt of murder by the council.
Loved how it all went down, I felt bad for Wrath and his adapting to the inevitable, but in the end, it really worked :))))
John/Xhex - Ahh they have some tough times, those two :((( John just goes through one bad thing after another, and in the end, he breaks. It was so difficult to read, especially the scene after she leaves him and he realises that he's always been alone and that he doesn't want any more suffering :((( He pretty much turns emotionless, and I totally felt bad for him.
Tohrment - he's practically a living corpse. He doesn't want to get better and live, even with all the support from his fellow Brothers, John and Lassiter.
The moment when he starts to "wake up"... Loved it.
iAm and Trez - I don't know if they'll have their books or not, but we did learn more about them in this book, and I really wouldn't mind reading more ehehehehheeh
Muhrder - is mentioned as Xhex's ex, but if I remember correctly, there'll be some more of him in one of the next books

The cliffie - It has nothing to do with the main couple, so don't worry, they get their HEA just fine :)
It's more of an intro into the next book, so my suggestion is, have Lover Mine prepared when you read this one! You'll want to jump right at it after you're done :))))

"He seemed so fragile as he gave himself up to her, and she realized that if anyone tried to hurt him, even though he could more than take care of himself, she would commit murder. To protect him, she would kill.
The conviction was as solid as the bones beneath her skin:
Even the powerful needed protection sometimes."

Ehlena is a nurse who works at Havers' clinic. She's known Rehv for some time, but has always avoided him. It takes one night of outrageous flirting from Rehv, and she can't get him out of her head.
That of course, is not a good thing for Ehlena, because they're from totally different worlds, she is poor and looking after her sick father, while Rehv is rich, and part of the highest aristocracy.
She doesn't want anything to do with him, but can't help but be worried when she realises his wounds are infected.
After deciding to help him get better, even if it's something he doesn't want, she goes to his flat and they have dinner.
Soon after that, they get closer and closer, and eventually fall in love <3

"She was lonely, too, and in the same way he was.
Her emotional grid had the same footprint his did, Xhex’s did, and Trez’s and iAm’s did: Her feelings were surrounded by the disconnected void of someone separated from her tribe. Living among others, but essentially apart from it all. A shutout, a castaway, one who had been expelled."

She goes to my list of favorite females from this series :)))
I really really liked her, and the surprising thing is, she's totally normal!
She isn't a kick-ass, and doesn't have a personality that jumps out of a page, but I liked her for the person she was, and just by the fact that she and Rehv complement each other perfectly.
They are the same, both are lonely, and looking at life from the outside, both wanting something more but they know they can't get it.
She constantly thinks she's not good enough for Rehv, and he does the same thing with her :D
Just have to say, my favorite scene with her is that quote just below her name, when she's all protective of Rehv. Totally loved it, because he needs someone like that in his life, he's always done the protecting, and at a terrible cost :(
The ending... Well I kinda get that it would all be a shock and that a normal person would react that way, but still I felt worse for Rehv :(
When she came to the Brotherhood mansion... awesome! She showed she had a stronger side of her character and what she was willing to do for Rehv.

"God, there were not enough showers in the world for him to be clean enough to talk to Ehlena. Not enough soap or bleach or steel wool. As he pictured her in her pristine nurse’s uniform, her strawberry blond hair back in a neat ponytail, her white shoes unscuffed, he knew that if he ever touched her he’d stain her for life."

Rehvenge has a dark secret that he must hide from everyone, and that costs him every month. His blackmailer demands payment in rubies and sex in order to keep quiet.
He hates the times when he has to whore himself for her silence, but he loves the fact that he can hurt her that way.
The monthly visits are slowly eating him away, making him sick, and Rehv's lost the will to live, he is indifferent to everything that happens to him, until he meets Ehlena.
She wants to make him better, even though he has no intention of healing himself.
He is forced to take dopamine every day, to keep his other side from appearing, and that leaves him without any sense of touch or feeling in his body at all.
He starts a relationship with Ehlena, even though he can't have sex while he's on medication, but to pleasure her is enough for him.
When there's a threat to those he loves, he is forced to make a tough call :(

“No.” She couldn’t see him like this. Shit, she couldn’t see him ever again. He was filthy. A filthy, dirty whore who let someone he hated touch him and suck on him and use him, and force him to do the same to her.

Love. Him.
Definitely one of my favorite BDB characters!
For me, the whole thing with the princess was UBER-disturbing!!!
It just feels like rape, and Rehv's the one being raped, even though he's the one doing the f*cking.
Terrible scenes, and afterwards when he breaks down :((( the shower and everything :(((
So, so, so tough to read!
His moments with Ehlena are almost the only pure ones he has in his life, and he constantly feels like he'll contaminate her and make her dirty if she's with him.
The dinner scene... That was so lovely! He was sweet and flirty and I just loved him there :)
The smexy times were great even though there weren't that many between them :(
Now, the tough scenes... I cried a couple of times :(
First when he made the tough decision! That was so sad to read, watching him saying goodbye :((((
And after that, the scene with the bugs! Oh! My! God!!!!! Terrible!!!!
The ending... Yep cried a bit there too! Very emotional!!!!
So yeah. Don't know what more to say except, I totally and utterly love Rehvenge <3

“I’m not into that either.” Oh, not at all. He was a whore with standards—kinky crap was okay only if you were forced into it. Fuck the consensual shit V and his mate were into. Yeah, ’cuz that was just wrong.
Christ, he was beneath her.

My favorite quotes from other characters:

God, how he hated the lonely look on her face. “You can’t know how sorry I am.”
Beth reached up and touched his jaw. “I hear it in your voice.”
He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “I’m nothing without you.”
“Not true.” She stepped out of his hold. “You are the king. No matter who your shellan is, you are everything.”
-------------------------------------------
“You know,” he said, “this is why I love you so much.”
Her tone was heartbreakingly warm. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t ask me to go inside because it’s cold. You just want to make it easier for me to be where I want to stand.”

“You’re okay, Qhuinn, you know that. You’re tight.”
She clapped him on the shoulder, then headed for her office thinking the king had been smart in the choice of ahstrux nohstrum for John. Qhuinn was a perverted fucker, but he was a straight-up killer, and she was glad he was the one watching her boy.
Watching John Matthew, she meant.
Because he wasn’t her boy. In the slightest.

Just as Xhex winced and went to leave, he looked up into the security camera. Whether he knew it was there or whether that was just where his eyes ended up, it was hard to know.
Shit. His face was grim, his jaw set hard, his stare soulless in a way that saddened her.
Xhex tried not to see the change in him for what it was and failed. She had done this to him. Maybe she wasn’t the only reason he’d turned to stone, but she was a big part of it.
He looked away.
She turned away.
------------------------------------------
As he got to the door, he looked at her for the first time since she’d left him in her bed. There was no flicker of recognition or memory or anything in his face. The blue stare that had once sparkled was now opaque.
“John…” Her voice cracked slightly. “I’m really sorry.”
With deliberate care, he extended his middle finger at her and left.

“I was worried you weren’t coming home,” Tohr said loudly.
Qhuinn and Blay halted. Rhage and Lassiter shut up. Mary’s and Rhoda’s voices filled the void.
John barely paused as he signed,

This isn’t home. It’s a house. And I need a place to stay.

"Off to the left, a glowing Oscar statue of a guy stood tall in combats, his blond-and-black hair making him look like an eighties headbanger looking for a backup band. Lassiter the fallen angel didn’t seem any less fierce than the Brothers, however. Maybe it was his piercings. Or the fact that his eyes were all white. Fuck it, the guy’s vibe was just hard-core."

I want Lassiter's book. ASAP!!!!!!!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin with this review. Like so many of Ward's other books, this book consumed my thoughts. Even when I wasn't reading it, I was pondering the interactions between the characters, hoping for the best, and dreading the worst that I felt was coming.

I don't know how the WARDen does it, but my love for this series and her writing grows even more all-consuming with each book. I do know that she understands the power of evoking emotions in the reader. I can't read any of her books without getting my emotions involved in the process.

I loved Rehv before I read this book. I love him even more after reading this book. Rehv is a great example of why antiheroes are so compelling to me. He is a mass of contradictions and not predictable in the least. He is so sexy, so powerful, yet so vulnerable at the same time. He's no boy scout, but his does have honor and duty. He sacrificed himself again and again for those that he loved, even allowing some of them to think the worst of him. Inside he bore his loneliness like a burden he felt he deserved. I was glad that he had two families, his mother and sister, and Xhex, Trez, and i.am.

I didn't like the drugs, the violence, and the prostitution, but I could understand why Rehv and Xhex inhabited that dark world. They felt that this was the only place they belonged. Fortunately Rehv also has the tether of his family, although he has to live a lie for many, many years. Xhex doesn't even have that. The sympaths were as fascinating I thought they would be. Even though this book delved into that world, I'd be perfectly happy to read more about them. They manage to exude a menace that jumps off the page as I read about them.

Like most outstanding books, the scenes were vivid like a movie in my mind. I love the realism mixed with magic and the supernatural. I am in awe of the WARDen's imagination. She has taken an hip/upscale/urban motif, mixed with the culture and world of an ancient race, and created several love and relationship stories and put them all together into a delicious confection that is this book. But it's the three-dimensional characters that really seduce me. Even the casual characters manage to grab my notice and my interest.

I am so glad that Rehv found Ehlena. It was great seeing such a tough, isolated guy fall so hard and fast and give his heart away. The interactions between Rehv and Ehlena was sweet and romantic, but erotic at the same time. He really knows how to treat a woman with tenderness, to cherish her as though she is the only woman in the world. At times, I was worried that Ehlena didn't deserve his love and devotion, but she proved true and worthy of it. Ehlena is one tough, steadfast woman. Just what Rehv needs. And Rhev is what she needs as well. My heart can rest in peace that Rehv does have the love and acceptance he always secretly yearned for. I am happy that he has a deep, loving relationship with Bella, and is like a brother to the Brotherhood.

It was also nice to see more of Wrath and Beth interacting. As they were the first couple, some of my memories have faded. So reading about their relationship and how it has remained deep and true was really great. What the WARDen has done with Wrath was so well-executed and felt right although some might feel that it was a dark way to go.

John Matthew is at a really dark point in this book, and I vacillated between despair and rage at what he is doing to himself. But I am so excited to read his book when it comes out. I wish it was coming out sooner. I can't wait to see him come into his own and claim his shellan in Xhex.

Xhex is my girl. I love the woman. She is all over it. I enjoyed getting perspective on her emotions and her thoughts. Her loyalty to Rhev is unquestionable, and I know there is more to learn about that, as well as her past. I felt her sorrow as she tried to push JM away although she clearly loves and is as drawn to him as he is to her. The next book in the series is going to be awesome as we see what transpires with Xhex and JM and follow along from how things ended in this book.

The whole Lash situation promises to grow even more enthralling. At first I dismissed him as an immature bully. But he is proving to be a formidable antagonist. The way things will go down with him is going to be something else. He's evil as all get out, but he's a fascinating character. I think he will definitely prove to be the supervillain in this series. And boy did he go there at the end of this book. Let's just say it's going to be 'on' in the next book.

It was nice seeing the other brothers, but like the greedy BDB fan that I am, I wanted more of them. Short stories about other brothers and their shellans, please??? I miss Marissa and Cormia. Haven't seen much of them lately. More Butch, V, and Jane too. How about Rhage and Mary updates.

Ah, I never get enough of these books... Let this be a warning to you. Do not read these books if you want a life outside of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

[Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

Well, this was much better than the previous book.

Honestly, I went into this book half expected it to be disappointing, considering I wasn't happy with Lover Enshrined. But I needed to read this one, just couldn't resist Rehvenge’s story. He caught my attention since book 3 so it was impossible to ignore his story. And I can tell you now, when I finished reading Lover Avenged, it wasn’t what I expected and it didn’t disappoint either—it literally blew me away! This book was amazing!

I really loved Rehv and Ehlena’s story. It was exactly what I wanted. Before I started reading this book, I had a feeling that I would enjoy Rehv’s character, but I never thought that I would fall head over heels in love with this half-symphath, half-vampire! He simply stole my heart with his selflessness, gentleness, and thoughtfulness.

Wrath is always one of my favorite male characters in this series, so I’m particularly biased toward him here. What can I say? I enjoyed his story and I loved a little drama between him and Beth. Speaking of Beth, she is incredibly wonderful in this book. I’m very happy for the king that she’s his shellan.

Xhex and John…two wounded souls… Yeah, this is what I call an interesting couple!

All in all, this was a great read. With 642 pages, it’s certainly massive, yet it’s worth reading. I’m so glad I decided to continue with the series.

[P · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You know,” he said, “this is why I love you so much.”
Her tone was heartbreakingly warm. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t ask me to go inside because it’s cold. You just want to make it easier for me to be where I want to stand.”

Frankly, I read this book without a break. Rehv and Elena's story was more than I had expected even though I wasn't into his character that much from the previous books. Rehv have been a detached character for me from the start, I didn't sympathize him as much as I should for what he has to endure. However, J.R. ward could practically attracted me with the other stories and characters. Her narrative is good as always, I couldn't have asked for more.

“Life is such a glorious trauma, is it not?”

I loved Wrath and Beth's story, it's a little bit tragic and sad at some point, but in the end, their story was what redeemed this book to 5 stars rating. Xhex and John are good, too. I was so thrilled when there were five chapters left, what Rehv had done made me almost cry. This is really perfect.

This series is so addicting ! Although it's the seventh of the series, the story is still in the line. Every point is reasonable. Every decision of my beloved characters excites me. I can't even guess where the story will go in the next book and hope J.R. Ward will keep writing this until the world ends.



https://goo.gl/okejwE

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting harder and harder to review. Each book covers so much information across so many characters that I can't possibly begin to touch on everything. So I am going to do something I don't normally do... I am going to do gif reactions. If you want me to elaborate anything, just drop me a comment.

Wrath -



Rehv -



Ehlena-



Xhex -



Xhex and John -



John-



Beth -



Rehv and Ehlena -



Wrath and Beth -



Rehv and Bella -



Wrath and Payne



Ending -



4 STARS!

[warhawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Book 7 of Black Dagger Brotherhood series
POV: Third Person
Rating:




Even though not a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Rehvenge was an influential member of the glymera. As a businessman, he was both feared and respected. But behind the persona, he had a secret that not only would change his life, but the Brotherhood as well.

Ehlena was a kind hearted nurse who had fell into tough times. Once a member of the glymera, a reversal of fortune forced her scrape by while tending to her ailing father. She had been admiring Rehv afar, but as they got closer, his secret could possibly rip them apart.



In previous books in the series, even though Rehv intrigued me, he wasn't a character I cared about. Before reading, I wasn't sure if my opinion of him would change. I'm glad to say it did.

And he lived dark and violent and seedy. Was going to die that way, too. He deserved where he was going.

On the surface, Rehv was a selfish, opportunistic and manipulative character. In the past, he showed how he sacrificed for the ones he cared, but in this book we get to see yet another side of him. Seeing his vulnerabilities made him lovable.

The thing was, it wasn’t that she wanted to change everything. She just wanted something for herself, something that made her know she was alive.

I like how responsible Ehlena was, not only with her profession but also her family. She was under a lot of pressure, yet she managed to always put others first. However, there were times when I thought she was naive and judgmental.

“John Matthew was her well of soul, as the symphaths called it, or her pyrocant, to the vampires. Her essential weakness.”

Besides Rehv and Ehlena, Wrath & Beth, and John Matthew & Xhex were the secondary stories. Wrath's issue was a good sub plot to show his worth as the King. And Xhex surprised me. I never liked her before, but her vulnerability made me sympathize with her.



Lover Avenged is a story of a couple in two different worlds that fight for what they believe in. With how the story ended, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

Standalone Books in the series:
Must be read in order





For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Tweebs ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

you know what needs to be avenged?

my heart

it didn't deserve this treatment

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rehvenge is just such a great character because like so many of JR Ward's leading men, he's strong as hell, but also has his own inner demons and struggles to contend with every day. Once again I love that Ward has given him a significant disability to deal with. Keeping his sympath side in check with drugs that deliver nasty side effects helps make him more real. The relationship with Ehlena worked well too, I thought. Ward wrote her well, and I found her very relatable. I especially liked Rehv's willingness to sacrifice and keep secrets for his mother and sister. Just great touches. An awesome book!

Reread 2020: Wow, I’d forgotten most of this book! Wrath going out to fight the Lessers and lying to Beth? Completely forgot about that, but I guess in every book one of the brothers has to go rogue so someone else can get in their face and tell them they’ve gone off the deep end. 😊 And that did make for some great scenes with Vishous and the other brothers.

Rehvenge. For whatever reason I was more fond of him coming into this book, with some of the scenes with Phury and the allowing him to use the Great Camp, with Bella and being protective as a brother and son, and I think the early on stuff detailing the drug dealing and prostitution at Zero Sum kind of hammered home that Rehvenge has some points about him I’m not so fond of. I found his story interesting, and of course I remember that somehow Ward always turns things around and makes me like him more in the end. I really loved the scenes with the glymera, and I especially found the dynamic as written between him and Xhex with their history with the sympaths and the blackmail and their friendship to be fascinating. Honestly, more so than the romance in this particular book, although I loved Ehlena. This was just one of those books where the individual character stories and backstories did more for me than the romantic end of things simply because it was that good.

The build up to Xhex’s book, and her assassin plot was great as well as the heat building between her and John Matthew. Very excited to reread their book next month. John and Tohr had some dark stuff that was hard to read. Lassiter, on the other hand, I’m completely digging in this part of the series. Whenever he’s being all angel Lassiter and being a side of smart ass mixed with two parts let me guide your fate, and totally awesome angel, that works for me.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rehvenge is so Boss & Lash is a Villain you love to hate!



I am loving this series more with each book I read. All the characters feel more like Family. Even Lash who I really hated at first when he was just a trainee and was mean to John all the time. Now that he is the Omega’s son and an all powerful Lesser villain, he is pretty awesome. You just have to love how good he is at being bad. He is so much smarter than Mr. X, and Mr. O were. Plus he can really do some damage and he isn’t impotent like they were.



This book is mostly about Rehvenge and I was waiting for his story since we have been hearing so much about him in the previous books. I mean he has so many issues, but is such a manly vampire. What is not to like about a huge guy who runs the hottest club in the city, drives a Bentley, has a penthouse, takes care of his Mom, sports a killer Mohawk and Tattoos, and is also a local political leader.

Of course, I knew if he was going to have a love interest in this book, that the evil Sympath Princess blackmailing him into sex that he hates every month would somehow have to be dealt with. I won’t tell if or how that happens, but he falls for a nice nurse from Havers clinic who knows nothing about him being half sympath or owning the club and being a drug kingpin.

Though Ehlena does know Rehv has a problem with dopamine, she thinks it is from the Vampire form of Parkinson’s. She also knows his arm is infected and tries to help him with that, since she is a nice girl.

John and Xhex have more encounters throughout this book. Their storyline is heating up a lot. I can’t wait to find out what happens with them in the next book. John has given up on Tohrment at this point and is so different than he used to be. He is sullen and drunk a lot now. Hopefully that ends soon. It is almost like a soap opera I am caught up in. But soaps were never this good!

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[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rehvenge or Rehv and Ehlena

“Ehlena?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way.”
She drew in a deep breath and he saw her bare shoulders tighten. “Okay. I’ll try not to.”
“You keep showing up here? Being who you are?” There was a pause. “I’m going to fall in love with you.

Ehlena is a sweet, humble nurse who lives with her old and unable to help himself father. She is a good nurse dedicated to her job at Haver’s clinic and her patients. She is a good daughter who stands by her sick father and spends most of the money that she earns for his care. She is also a very poor girl who is not part of the glymera.

Rehvenge is the owner of the most famous vampire club and the brother of Bella. A crime boss and a drug lord. He is a badass boy with a mohawk and amethyst eyes.

And with a big bad secret: He is half Symphath (he has the ability and desire to manipulate emotions in others), which is not a good thing and he needs to keep himself calm in order to be able to operate daily. Moreover Rehvenge is part of the Glymera and he is rich.

So, Ehlena and Rehvenge have really nothing in common – except Rehvenge’s frequent visits to the clinic in order to get antibiotics and medicines in large quantities.

Rehvenge thinks that he does not deserve her. And probably he doesn’t, because Ehlena will lose her job and her dignity because of him. And because he never tells her the whole truth.

Ehlena thinks that she does not deserve him. And she couldn’t be more wrong, because she will save him permanently. And because she will be the brotherhood’s special nurse and a valuable asset for all the warriors.


Book cover: Yes I am totally biased. I adore all Paul Marron’s book covers (although I love him more as LOTHAIRE). As a result this book cover is my favorite in the series so far.

Kick start for the next book: What happened to Xhex?

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, in my opinion, the best of the series, and I now adore Rehvenge, whereas before I really didn't like him at all. That's the beauty of the WARDen's writing.

She's really outdone herself!

My birthday gift to myself was an autographed copy of this book. It came wrapped in birthday paper, has a birthday wish from the WARDen, and I LOVE IT!

[Exina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Even the powerful needed protection sometimes.”

Lover Avenged is one of my favorite installments of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It is the love story of Rehvenge and Ehlena. 

Rehv's character is so special and extravagant. Despite his tough and merciless façade, he is self-devoted and selfless for those who he loves. I really enjoyed the reveal of his personality. 



Ehlena is perfect for him: she is honest, open-minded, clear-sighted, and brave.



Like in the previous books of the series, many storylines are interweaving with each other - nothing happens without a purpose. Every small detail of the plot has significance. The interplay between the characters is amazing.

It's one of the darkest and most angsty book of the series. Every moment is sinister, loaded with dark, painful secrets and lies, tormenting memories, fears, tragedies, and more pain. The tension is present all along the story. 

Somewhere in the middle of the story, slowly, very slowly, some light penetrates into the dark, but things soon turn into even deeper shit, and total hopelessness. Thor finally begins to pull himself together, but it is too late because he has already lost John. After a marriage crisis, Wrath and Beth straighten things out, but suddenly a much bigger problem occurs.

I loved all the scenes of John, Qhuinn, and Blay, although it was saddening to see the conflicts and disagreements between them.

The relationship of Rehv, Xhex, Trez, and iAm is remarkable. The bond and loyalty between the four of them is as strong as the bond between the Brothers.

Lash is arrogant and powerful enough, but the real antagonist here is the Sympath Princess.



Not a surprise that John and Xhex’s story, of which you already got crumbs in the previous books, is perfectly and genuinely prepared.

Lover Avenged is an outstanding installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

My favorite quotes.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!!!!



Let’s meet Rehv...

Your friendly neighborhood drug lord, pimp, and enforcer.

Rehvenge is one awesome male in this series. He is not a member of the Brotherhood. But he works with them. His sister Bella is mated to the brother Zsadist. And the brothers know his secret. Rehv is half sympath, along with Xhex. Technically speaking, he should be in a colony up north with the other sympaths, but his secret is safe... for now. He makes some huge sacrifices to keep it that way. By paying off the evil princess with rubies and sex. It is slowly killing him. His symptoms are mostly controlled with drugs, but every time he sees the princess, he gets worse.



Yet he keeps going back every month. It is imperative no one finds out about his sympath side. Especially his sister Bella. He will do anything to protect those he loves. Eventually, he meets someone who shows him

Even the powerful needed protection sometimes.

Ehlena is a nurse at Haver’s clinic. She hasn’t had the easiest life. Her family used to be aristocratic, then her dad started having mental problems. Now she works hard to take care of him, not really living her own life.

This was the nurse Rehv hoped he would get each time he came in. This was the one who made these visits even partially bearable. This was his Ehlena.


One night, Rehv comes in to the clinic to get more Dopamine. Ehlena happens to be his nurse. She sees how bad of shape he is in and is very concerned. Rehv is his ever so charming self, and gives Ehlena his card. She had no intention of calling him. Ever. Until he leaves and she realizes he never got any medication to treat the infection in his arm. She is worried. Thats just the type of female she is.

Everyone with a beating heart deserves to be saved.

She gets ahold of Rehv and makes arrangements to meet him with some antibiotics, knowing he won’t come back to the clinic. Rehv knows he is no good for Ehlena. With his sympath side, and being with the princess, he knows it. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. She is a woman of worth and he wants to be with her.

“It’s simple. I don’t think you should date anyone.” Rehv moved in even closer, until he could see the flecks of gold in her eyes. “But I’m not just anyone.”

Rehv is a badass. Seriously. But I love him so much! I loved how alpha and protective he was. Not just with Ehlena, but his friends and family also. My heart broke for him at times, but I think Ehlena was exactly the female he needed. Some one who wouldn’t take his crap and would stand up to him. I liked the two of them together.



Things weren’t smooth for these two. In fact, Rehv’s story was pretty complicated. Rehv has to make some really tough choices to protect those he loves. There were some tears shed, some rocky parts, but I loved how it ended It was awesome that Ehlena went after him. She could feel he was alive, and REFUSED to stay behind. Loved it.



There is MUCH more going on in this book than just Rehv’s story... it is like the last book in that regards. I loved getting to see some of my favorite brothers, but I don’t know how much I love that the main characters in the books aren’t getting the spotlight... I wanted MORE REHV. Okay, okay... It was really nice to get more Wrath and Beth, he was a huge part of this story. Along with Xhex and John Matthew, Tez, iAm, Payne, Qhuinn, Bella, Z, and all the other warriors. This book had a bit of a cliffy ending (not for Rehv and Ehlena though) so I am anxious to read the next one! I’ve loved John Matthew since we were first introduced to him so I’m really excited to get into it next Friday!

This was a solid 5 star read for me. I’ve enjoyed this series so much. The characters and the story is so complex and interesting, I just can’t get enough! I feel like every time I write a review for one of these books I am just repeating myself, but I can’t help it... I LOVE THIS SERIES & I LOVE REHVENGE! If you haven’t read these, you are missing out , True? :D


My FAVORITE Rehv line:

‘You keep showing up here? Being who you are?' There was a pause. 'I'm going to fall in love with you.'

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, the BDB series just keeps getting better and better. I really liked Ehlena and Rehv in this book. They are absolutely perfect for one another. I also loved that we got to see a bit more of Wrath and Beth. And of course, Xhex and John, although it is quite sad what happens to them in the book.

The plot again is crazy! There are so many twists and turns that I swear my head would fall off. The writing is incredible. Ward makes me so envious! I seriously cannot wait to find out what happens to John Matthew and Xhex in Lover Mine. John may possibly be my favourite Brother. I. cannot. wait.

Favourite Quote:
The staircase that was revealed was lit with a soft red glow. "I feel like I'm walking down into a porn movie," V muttered as they took the steps with care.
"Wouldn't that require more black candles for you," Zsadist cracked. At the bottom of the landing, they looked left and right down a corridor carved out of stone, seeing row after row of...black candles with ruby color flames.
"I take that back," Z said, eyeing the display.
"We start hearing chick-a-wow-wow shit," V cut in, "Can I start calling you Z-packed?"
"Not if you want to keep breathing."

2011 REREAD-APRIL

[• Lisa • · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 REHVENGE STARS.



What this thirteen hour story didn't fit is not worth thinking about. I'm rammed to the brim with all things Black Dagger and that's the way I like it. I can't help but fall in love with each book in the series, and each time I start a new page, chapter or book I wonder if I'll ever tire of this extraordinary paranormal fix and the answer is a huge resounding NO.

What's it all about? ...
The start of 'Lover Avenged' brings us right into the caldwell action and the spotlight is on our favourite syhmpath Rehvenge, there is a planning meeting to kill our beloved king, Wrath. From this point we are taken chapter to chapter with a story line that is so demanding and entertaining I'm not convinced I'm able to sum it up. That being said be prepared for Rhev and his new addiction, Ehlena. This strong headed and determined vampire nurse refuses to be charmed by this dangerous lover, we find both these loveable characters have got more than their fair share of decisions and difficulties. A story that showcases the next mating and couple working towards their own happy ending. Don't be surprised to see other characters making their mark in 'Lover avenged' we see John Matthew still overcoming difficulties. The return of Tohrment and our resident leader, Wrath playing a leading role. I'm always excited to learn more about the characters and it leaves a huge taste for more.

Rehvenge and Elhena ...
I completely unashamedly fell for this female character, I really felt I benefited from the authors thorough character built up, I was able to connect to her like I haven't with other female heroines in previous books in the series. She has heart and soul and a loving nature that is so selfless it was heartbreaking. She is the balm to Rehvenge's evil, the light in the dark the happy to the ending.
Rehvenge is an equally dark and light character and actually the author plays out his character brilliantly I loved all his sides and quirks. Just as all the heroes in this series his dominance and care taking of the one he loves is not to be rivalled with.



What I loved ...
Of course you know I loved this book, Rehvenge's story surprised me with yet again brilliant twists and fabulous story telling. The author has a way of bringing the reader into the world of Caldwell and not letting you go till the last page, when I finish each book I'm always in a beautiful book hangover. You may have already guessed that I love the characters in 'Lover Avenged' and I'm more than excited to see what the author does next with the other pieces of the puzzle in this series.

My final thoughts ...
You have got to know by now, that I would recommend this series to you. As a reader who never thought I would get so wrapped up in a paranormal romance about a group of vampires, don't discount yourself. The world of the black dagger Brotherhood brings out most of my reading emotions ... I laugh, I cry, I fall in love. The book encompasses so much detail and storyline, prepare to experience the sufferings of a king, the hardship of bereavement, the crippling effects of mental health, the hard journey of finding the path towards love, not to mention war, death and pain. The author of the series is simply a story genius. If your a PNR enthusiast you will devour this series, there is never a predictable moment ... Read on.

Tasters to get you excited ...

❤❤“She was glad she didn’t know where it would take her. Because sometimes the only thing that
got you through hell was that you were in too deep to pull out.

❤❤“No matter what you wear... to me, you will always have diamonds on the soles of your shoes.”


❤❤“But every once in a while, from out of the blue, someone reaches the quiet place where you spend your private time and changes the way you see yourself”



5 amethyst stars.

*additional note, I'm more than ready to read about John Matthew, it's been a long time coming. Here's to the BESTIE epic buddy read. Anna your a STAR.*

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guilty pleasure read 🤗😍 7th in series… Caution: 🛑 Rated R for adult content. Not suitable for ya or wholesome folks. 😉

[xrysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make females nervous.
Rehvenge


Not her blood but her hurt was going to save him.
Ehlena


In this book we see that Wrath has many enemies that are willing to kill him.There are only 4 brothers left fighting so he decides that he should start fighting again but he hides this from Beth.

Rehvenge has to deal with his club , the princess and his sympath nature at the same time. Because of his nature he has to visit quite often Haver's clinic . There he meets Ehlena , a stunning nurse . Obviously , like the whole female population , Ehlena is very uncomfortable around him and he cant stop flirting her .

"You can watch if you like."
"No, thanks."
"Pity. I wouldnt mind you watching me."

Their relationship is very beautiful because they complete each other.
Ehlena doesnt ask questions about him but he hates himself for hiding her the truth.



John
In this book he annoyed me so much with his I-dont-give-a-shit attitude.Just because Xhex rejected him that doesnt justify his actions.
He gets drunk and fucks whores.

He has cold sex with her and then he left her ignoring the fact that she felt awful.


I liked the book's ending because I think that he deserves to feel a little pain after his awful behaviour.

In this book there were moments that I felt sad


others that cripped me out


and of course I laughed a lot with the brothers
“The staircase that was revealed was lit with a soft red glow.
I feel like I'm walking down into a porn movie," V muttered as they took the steps with care.
Wouldn't that require more black candles for you," Zsadist cracked.
At the bottom of the landing, they looked left and right down a corridor carved out of stone, seeing row after row of...black candles with ruby color flames.
I take that back," Z said, eyeing the display.
We start hearing chick-a-wow-wow shit," V cut in, "can I start calling you Z-packed?"
Not if you want to keep breathing.”

“Christ, don't you ever knock?
It's Lassiter. L-A-S-S-I-T-E-R. How is it possible you're still getting me confused with someone else? Do I need a nametag?”

Why I loved Ehlena: She is not an annoying girlfriend.She is smart and beautiful. She accepts Rehv's nature and I like the fact that she becomes a badass when it comes to his safety.

Why I loved Rehvenge: He is a pimp who becomes a whore . He doesnt treat his whores nice because he is the good guy but because he is one of them . He hates himself for what he is doing but he cant change it . He is Xhex's hero and a good male . He deserves much better than he'd gotten out of life but finally he managed to find happiness into Ehlena's embrace.

[Maria Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creo que tengo un serio problema con esta novela, o por lo menos, varias dudas:

¿Cómo podía tener Ehlena el número de teléfono de Xhex, si sólo se habían visto una vez?
¿Cómo podía Rehv mandar a Trez a casa de Ehlena, a buscarla, si no sabía dónde vivía?
¿Por qué todos los personajes dicen: mierda? ¿No hay más expresiones en el diccionario? (Lo digo porque las expresiones ayudan a diferenciar a los personajes, a darles su propia personalidad, y si todos terminan hablando o renegando igual... pues eso... Mierda).
Y sobre todo, ¿que necesidad había de rescatar a Beth y a Wrath?

Ahora, si nos centramos en la historia de Rehv y Ehlena... El personaje de Rehv me gustó mucho, aunque el de ella solo me gustó al principio de la novela. En serio, yo no la vi taaaaaannnn mortificada el mes que estuvo disfrutando de su nuevo o restablecido estatus social. En cuanto a las tramas..., demasiadas; demasiados frentes abiertos...

[Buggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"THE KING MUST DIE"
And with these four words so begins J.R Wards 7th instalment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I couldn't wait to read LOVER AVENGED and at 642 pages Ward does not disappoint. She has encompassed it all; Surprises galore, evolving storylines, several POV's, plot-twists, humour, action, romance and of course heartbreak.

I won't give away too much here, I'll just give you a brief rundown of all the goodies involved in this intricate story. First off, and this was important to me. All the brothers make an appearance and are all involved to some degree within the story. So yes, we get shots of V, Butch, Zsadist, Rhage, Phury, Tohrment and Wrath, Ah Wrath...

Although pegged as Rehvenge's book, LOVER AVENGED belongs equally to Wrath and his continuing story. And oh how sweet it is to be back with the King. We haven't seen much of him since Dark Lover(Book 1) but his character takes up a significant number of pages here as Wrath goes rogue from his royal duties and ultimately has to pay the consequences. John Mathew and Xhex also get a fair amount of attention and in secondary roles we have Blay and Quinn, Tez, iAm, and Payne. We are also introduced to George, a new companion to the King. Lassiter is back as the hilarious fallen angel, sidekick of Tohrment and the battle continues with the Lessers. Speaking of the Lessoning Society, Lash is simply awesome as their evolving leader taking things to a whole new level of evil.

I've never really been a fan of Rehvenge (he kind of creeped me out) but I have to say my opinion of him has now changed. His and Ehlena's love story is well done and surprisingly sweet. Ehlena makes a worthy mate but alas their romance never takes center stage (much like Phury/Cormina in (Lover Enshrined.) Ehlena is a nurse from the clinic who treats Rehv after he develops sepsis from repeatedly injecting the dopamine he must take to hide the fact that he's a sympath. It's an unlikely pairing that somehow works even though Rhevenge is still a major drug lord/pimp and has his hands full running the nightclub Zerosum and being a leahdyre on the council. We do get to see a whole new side of him however and gain a much greater insight into the world of sympaths. JR manages to weave all her POV's and storylines together for one nail biting and (literally explosive finale.

My one and only gripe would have to be that JR's brotherhood language has evolved. I don't mean the terms (but yes there are more of these as well) but the actual street lingo that the brothers use when speaking to each other. I occasionally found it hard to understand what they were talking about and had to re-read their dialogue several times before I could figure it out.

I can't imagine how you could ever start the series with this book, so please don't try. The BDB is so involved and complex with so many major characters, interweaving stories and POV's that you would be utterly lost plus you'd miss out on the other 6 great books in this fantastic series, but if you're a fan you won't be disappointed, true. The brotherhood undergoes some changes and there are major developments in all ongoing storylines but the hilarious banter we all love, the intensity and excitement are all still here. LOVER AVENGED made me laugh, made me cry and I didn't want it to end yet JR has done a great job in setting things up for the next book which is to be John Mathew's story (Lover Mine.)

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting that much emotion from this story, honestly. I skipped two books and went straight into reading this one, since I got a steal for this hardcover and I don't really regret it, nope. At times I was slightly confused but at the end I caught up on the main things.

I liked that we got to see more Wrath and Bella again but they sure had their own problems. But nothing like Rehvenge's problems. Man, that poor man. Reading about his past and how he came to be the sexual slave for his princess is just... I don't think I would love somebody that much and do what he has to do for them, especially since they were to ones to fuck up stuff that lead to this mess. Seriously, that's a hard choice. And don't even get me started on that 'Princess'. I was honestly just waiting for someone to kill her off or to do something that will make her more bearable. I so didn't like her, ugh. At the end I was quite satisfied with the outcome, so all is forgiven. Also, I could have gone without the sex scenes between them but I get why the author chose to include them in the story. It makes the reader feel more than, if they were simply told the act happened and that's that. Seeing it first hand and what he was thinking made me understand him more and this whole situation. I was so glad when he found his nurse. Finally something good in his dark life. But then again, love does have it's ups and downs and Rehvenge got the full ride on that treacherous train. Thankfully everything goes the way it's supposed to and I couldn't be more happier for him and Ehlena.

I liked Ehlena, not as much as Rehvenge (for obvious reasons) but still more than the rest of the characters. Some were just downright awful. She has this light around her that I guess captured Rehvenge. She's just so lovely in a way but also fierce. At the end she really fough for him and didn't give up, despite what happened at the club. So definitely thumps up for that.

All in all, I liked the story and the new plot. I just wished they would move on from their enemies or at least that something big or new would have happened. In a way it did, since someone got taken but still... I wanted more in some aspects of the story and less in the others. I know, I know...
Anyway, still a good read! :)

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being a tiny bit disappointed by Book 6 I was very happy that this one was back up to standard! I have never been a great fan of Rehvenge but he turned into a much nicer character once under the influence of his Ehlena and I enjoyed their whole story.
The side stories were the best though and the humour. I love the banter between the brothers and I really like Lassiter. I hope we hear a lot more of him in the future!
As usual the book was a tad too long and it flagged a bit in the middle but then the whole Wrath story developed and that was intense and very sad.
All very entertaining and of course there's a cliff hanger at the end to make sure I move on to the next book soon:)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

DRUMROLL PLEASE........its time for some Rehvenge

EPIC EPIC EPIC SWOON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mohawk madness......need.want.gotta.have.more....Rehv- or the Reverend, as the human clientele called him- was a drug lord and pimp who didn't give a shit about the vast majority of people. Which meant he was capable of, and frequently did, anything the fuck he wanted to. So the guy who cared about very little was in charge of a hell of a lot.



Rehvenge is a ......holy swoony sex on a stick......













It's so hard to review a book like this...there's so many side stories and so much information....my mind is blown every time I finish a book in the series. This book broke my heart because Rehv was so damn yummy alpha and fiercely loving and protective of his family and friends. He had to make a lot of sacrifices to protect those he loved. So although he was a pimp, and a drug lord, and a murderer and a lot of other less than noble things....I could overlook it all because he had a heart of pure damn gold!! He is one badass loyal hunk of pure male I was worried for a hot minute that he would become my favorite brother and displace my current RHAGE.....it was a tough call....

This series keeps getting better and better....I can't wrap my head around how genius it is.




Ladies, Rehvenge....."the street pharmacist" is MINE !!



Lisa Jayne......I love ya!!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I won’t recap the story, since I am probably writing review number 1,000 for this book. Instead I will just share my thoughts and feelings.

I have been looking forward to Rehv’s story, I have always been intrigued by him. I think that is why I might have been more disappointed then the average reader.

As always I love reading about the Brotherhood and their spouses. I especially loved John’s story.

To me John stole the show…I was basically like Rhev who?? Where is John?


I have had this issue throughout the last few books. I think Ms. Ward is trying to begin the segue into the next installment; however, I am finding the actual MC to be lacking.


That is why I am having issues reviewing this particular book. In the end, I just didn’t love it like I have loved the others. Again, I am excited for John’s book and hoping to find that BDB Magic again.

[Shurrn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rehvenge's Story brings back the hard-hitting action and suspense we've come to expect from this series!

Beware of Spoilers if you haven't read the first 6 books in the series...

...every once in a while, from out of the blue, someone reaches the quiet place where you spend your private time and changes the way you see yourself...

I'm cautiously optimistic... I feel like we've reached a turning point with this installment, and I sincerely hope the momentum continues with the subsequent books.

As usual, the stories surrounding all of the secondary and tertiary characters stole the show:
- Beth and Wrath feature prominently in this book.
- John Matthew has a giant role.
- Doc Jane has several cameos.
- There's a shift in the Brotherhood.
- Lassiter the Angel has some awesome dialogue.
- The Scribe Virgin is moping around like an empty-nester.
- Lash plays a great big part in this book, which I think will appease the readers who have been less than thrilled with the amount of pages taken up by the Lessers...

But the Stars of this book were Rehvenge and Ehlena:

REHVENGE

His glowing amethyst eyes saw everyone and cared about no one.
Rehv - or the Reverend, as the human clientele called him - was a drug lord and a pimp who didn't give a shit about the vast majority of people. Which meant he was capable of, and frequently did, anything the fuck he wanted to.

Rehv is the infamous Zero-Sum club owner who has a larger than life personality which is only enhanced by his Sympath heritage... Talk about a hard-ass with a heart of gold...

EHLENA

"Must the world always be so harsh, I wonder,"

Ehlena is a nurse in Haver's clinic - and what do you want to bet she was the nurse who helped Phury evacuate the patients in Lover Enshrined? I bet she was... Anyway, Ehlena is your quintessential care-giver who believes that every soul is worth saving... Plus, she winds up being a smart female with a spine of steel. I mean, the woman goes toe to toe with Xhex! :O

Unfortunately, the Romance portion of the plot between these two was firmly in the whole "I love her but I don't deserve her" vs. "He's dreamy but he'll never love little 'ol me" trope, which I loathe... Complete with some "I'll push her away so I don't break her heart" behavior. Not cool, J.R. Ward... Not cool..



As you may know, I've been a bit peeved by the constant references to brands - most of the time the detail is completely irrelevant to the point of distraction... So as I read Lover Avenged, I resolved to write down every single brand name mentioned.

The result was staggering! You can see the result here: http://smutsonian.com/2014/07/03/j-r-...

Now for the more spoiler-y thoughts:
(Read at your own risk)

Wrath is now completely blind. I have to admit, it hurt my heart to know he wouldn't be able to fight with this Brothers any more... I don't think anybody wanted to see him lay down his daggers for good.

Also, you know I'm a dog lover... So I was stoked to meet Wrath's Seeing Eye Dog, George... but that's not nearly a bad-ass enough name. I think he should be Ghorge... You know how much the Brotherhood likes to throw an extra H into a name ;)

The scenes from inside the Sympath Colony were amazing... J.R. Ward really tapped into a cinematic quality with the visuals on that one. The cell which held Rehv, as well as the apparatus he was attached to... Not to mention the darkness and creepy-crawlies...



John Matthew has long been my favorite character of this series, but he needs to get his shit together. His little emotional roller-coaster throughout this book was exhausting... He's had to go through so much shit in his life before his transition, and he seemed to be in such a good place... Then he found Tohr, had sex with the Symath of his dreams... And he just checked out, got drunk, and started driving me nuts.



I know J.R. Ward is a fan of making characters hit rock-bottom before she gives them their own book, but seriously... Get it together John!


My Other Reviews in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series:

1. Dark Lover - My Review
2. Lover Eternal - My Review
3. Lover Awakened - My Review
4. Lover Revealed - My Review
5. Lover Unbound - My Review
6. Lover Enshrined - My Review
6.5 Father Mine - My Review
7. Lover Avenged - You're Reading It
8. Lover Mine - My Review
9. Lover Unleashed - My Review
10. Lover Reborn - My Review
11. Lover At Last - My Review
12. The King - My Review
13. The Shadows - My Review

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this one, a LOT! I'm finding that as the series grows the poor characters the book is supposed to be about seem to be getting less and less page time, to the point of getting totally swallowed up and lost in everyone else's dramas.

That said, the little I did get of Rehv and Elehna together I loved, he needed her quiet strength and support. Ward certainly gives her characters the perfect mates.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

AVISO: ESTE LIVRO TEM A PIOR TRADUÇÃO QUE EU ALGUMA VEZ TIVE A INFELICIDADE DE LER!

The original story _in english_ is outstanding.
The characters as always, are bigger than life, and the plot is amazingly complex and dangerously addictive.

The author has the ability of connecting every single point in the story, leaving no lose ends.
There's action, romance, and drama.

There's stories, and moments in it, so heartbreaking, that they almost make a reader feel as if one's reading a non fiction work.

Probably there isn't a lot of authors who who'd have the courage to develop certain situations, the way they were dealt in this book.

I loved Rhevenge and Ehlena story.
Rhevenge especially, was an amazingly addictive character.

I cant wait to read what's is going to happen with the other characters!

And now i'm going to mention "some"(yeah, right!) problems of the portuguese edition.

A tradução portuguesa é, pura e simplesmente uma vergonha, não existe outra forma de a descrever.


Desde os significados mais absurdos que se possam imaginar, a tradutora ou tradutor automático, confunde morcego com taco de basebol

"Tinha gostado daquele episódio. Era aquele em que se perdia o taco de beisebol...
Alguns gritos chegaram a ele, gerados pela comédia.
Sim. O taco de beisebol estava agora a voar."(pg 94)

CONTEXTO:
Tem-de-se ter atenção ao contexto!!

"He liked this epi. It was the one where the bat got loose—
A bunch of screams rippled over, generated by the sitcom.
Yup. The bat was flying around now."

Traduções atamancadas

"_Não sou capaz de ver isto com a mesma rapidez que tu.(pg 12)

“I fail to view this with your kind of levity.”
Leviandade, não rapidez...

apesar de estar a pingar sangue como uma cisterna furada.(pg 21)

and despite the fact that he was leaking like a corroded cistern.


Corroída, ao invés de furada.

"Cansada de si mesmo até à indigestão,(..)pg 37
Sick to shit of herself,

Farta de si, até à merda....não farta de si, até à indigestão.

Genial. Merda! (pg 53)
“Tough. Shit.”

Paciência??

Palavras inventadas:
"Bolas! Ela não podia provocá-lo,(..)"(pg 36)
Man, she could pick ’em.(..)".

Como é que se passa de: "Raios, ela realmente sabia escolhê-los" para "provocá-lo"??

Frases sem o mínimo sentido:

"V olhou fixamente o rosto golpeado até ficar irreconhecível."(pg 49)

V’s stare locked on a face that was beaten beyond recognition.

A face tinha sido golpeada(??) para além do reconhecimento. O olhar do V não teve nada a ver com isso.

"Rehv franziu o sobrolho, já que a questão da atracção sexual recordava-lhe algo em que não gostave de pensar.
Preferia pensar em alguém. (pg 68)

Rehv frowned, the whole sexual attraction thing reminding him of something he didn’t like to think about.
Someone, rather.

"Alguém, em que ele não queria pensar". Ou seja precisamente o sentido oposto.

"Ligue-me se alguma vez tiver vontade de me fazer um favor.
_Correndo o risco de parcer pouco profissional, nunca vou ter vontade de lhe fazer um favor. Em circunstância alguma.

“And call me if you’re ever in the mood to do me a favor.”
“At the risk of sounding unprofessional, I’m never going to be in the mood for you. Under any circumstances.”

O que Ehlena diz, seria algo do género: "...eu nunca vou estar na disposição para si. A sua recusa vai muito além, de estar na disposição ou não, de fazer um favor ao Revh.

Eu não li todo este texto em português, porque simplesmente não tive estômago e tempo para o fazer, e como tal, imagino que existam muitos mais disparates, que eu nunca irei descobrir.
Talvez algum verdadeiro tradutor(a) alguma vez esteja na disposição de irritar-se durante uns bons dias, a corrigir tal tradução..

Mais algumas idiotices, para se ficar com os olhos em bico( pois, ainda mais!) que descobri neste texto:

"Não podes mudar quem és. Não podes mudar o acoplamento dos teus pais."(pg 73)

“You can’t change who you are. You can’t undo the coupling of whatever parents you had."

Ora, acoplamento em português não é usado para descrever uma união entre duas pessoas.
Acoplamento. m. O mesmo que acoplagem
Acoplagem.f. "união mecânica de dois eixos.."; "acoplar:Bras. gir. Casar-se."

Somos brasileiros?
Eu pensava que não...então isso quer dizer que os pais do Wrath, efectuaram uma união mecãnica de dois eixos....lol, bem, no mínimo!!

"Ficas realmente bem, vestida de cabedal, sabias?
_E tu ficarias melhor num espartilho empenado

“You look really good in leather, you know that.”
“You’d look better in a body cast.”

AHHHHHHH, CLLLLAAAAAAARRRRRROOOOO, porque "coberto de gesso dos pés à cabeça" só pode ser traduzido para "espartilho empenado". Bem, isto é que foi gozar com os leitores...

Já agora, uma pergunta...existem revisores, para QUÊ??
Para verificar as vírgulas??

"Os vampiros são o caldo de cultivo a partir do qual evoluímos,(..)pg 169
Vampires are the crass basis of where we evolved from,

os vampiros são a fundação/base/início grosseiro, a a partir do qual evoluímos.

Graças a uma amiga do GR,(Obrigada Patrícia!) fiquei a saber que a expressão "Caldo de cultivo" será espanhola. Então esta tradução foi feita a partir do inglês...sim??? Ou espanhol??

Apesar de até agora ter todos os volumes em português,(okay, falta-me o do Phury, que li em inglês. Graças a DEUS!) não pretendo voltar a comprar mais nenhum volume traduzido por esta editora.

O desrespeito que esta tradução mostra pelos leitores, leva-me a crer, que a editora, não está interessada em mais leitores. Bom para vocês, CASA DAS LETRAS/ LEYA, porque EU não pretendo voltar a comprar mais nenhum livro que por vós seja editado.

P.S- Eu não sou tradutora, mas leio e escrevo em inglês há muitos anos. Cometo erros, em inglês e português.
No entanto, se não conheço o significado de alguma palavra, tento descobri-lo. Não me coloco a inventar.

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do these books have to be so long?! I have a short attention span so staying focused for 500+ pages and keeping a bunch of different story lines straight pushes me each time I read one of these books.

I'm still not a fan of the lessers and tend to skim their parts unless they are messing with the brothers.

Rehv & Ehlena were the main love story in this one.

"Why did you come? -Rehv
"I followed my heart." -Ehlena

But JM and Xhex caught my eye in this one. By the end of the book I don't even recognize JM. I'm looking forward to see what Ms. Ward has in mind for his character.



Cheat sheet for the brotherhood :
Wrath: last pure-blood vampire in existence. Dark Lover(#1) The King (#12) {Wrath & Beth}

Rhage: is the strongest and most beautiful of the Brothers. Nicknamed "Hollywood." Lover Eternal (#2) {Rhage & Mary}

Zsadist: has a twin, Phury. Described as "ruined, not broken." Lover Awakened (#3) {Zsadist & Bella}

Butch/Dhestroyer: is the only human male ever to be allowed within the Brotherhood. Nickname "Cop." Lover Revealed (#4) {Butch & Marissa}

Vishous: is the smartest Brother, and the one who is specially gifted/cursed. Lover Unbound (#5) {Vishous & Jane}

Phury: Zsadist's twin brother and loyal to his brother. Lover Enshrined (#6) {Phury & Cormia}

Rehvenge: brother-in-law to Zsadist. He's half symphath and owner of a night club. Drug lord and pimp. Lover Avenged (#7) {Rehvenge & Ehlena}

John Matthew/Tehrror: is the reincarnation of Darius. Lover Mine (#8)

Dr. Manuel "Manny" Manello: is Chief of Surgery at St. Francis Hospital. Lover Unleashed (#9)

Tohrment: Lover Reborn (#10)

Qhuinn: has mismatched eyes. Lover at Last (#11)

Blaylock/"Blay": Lover at Last (#11)

SERIES:

To find out when The Shadows will be released and if there will be more books in the series click here.

Novellas:

(#6.5)

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, on a BDB tour again!! i just can't help myself...keep reading these books over and over again.

I have to admit that I was not that crazy about Rhevenge the first time I read this book but each time I reread it, the more I like him. He's so much more than the "gangster" facade....he's totally devoted to his family and the people he loves and will do anything to protect them, even giving up his life for them. Ehlena is a perfect "foil" for him.
And of course, getting some more about these fabulous vampires and their world...is enough to keep me so so very very HAPPY.

2nd Review
Still love this book...just as exciting as the previous times I read it. Rhev is so so hot and sexy.....one of my favourite guys in the series.

1st Review
Lover Avenged is the 7th book in JR Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood Series and it’s the story of Rehvenge – Rehv and Ehlena. Although he is not a member of the BDB, his life is closed entwined with theirs and he is also fiercely loyal to the brothers and their families.
Rhev struggled his whole life being half Sympath and half vampire. Sympaths are a really scare race and most people are afraid of him and keep well away when he is present at any place. Very few people know what he really is. He suppresses his sympathy side by frequent shots of dopamine at Havers clinic and it is during one of these visits that he meets Ehlena, a vampire nurse who is the only person he has met that is not uncomfortable around him and who shows no fear being with him.

Rhev has appeared in previous books and I have to admit that I never thought there would be a book about him. I mean he’s a drug lord, owns a club where he sells drugs and he’s not a brother. But in this story we learn that he’s been protecting those he loves for years and we begin to see that he’s a noble and caring person. He is being blackmailed by a woman – omg talk about a scary and evil person…..she must be the wickedest woman I have ever read about!!!! The reason he continues to pay her in money and sick and depraved sex is to keep Xhex (who is also sympathy – more about her later!) and himself from their true sympathy nature being discover which would result in them being banished to the sympathy colony…another horrible sick place… He feels debased, dirty and what woman would understand the things he has done in his life.

I liked Ehlena. She is devoted to taking care of her ailing father, who has Alzheimer’s and her life has been a daily struggle since they were both ostracized from the glymera (royal vampires) . She is strangely attracted to Rhev but keeps turning down his attempts to get to know her. Why I have no idea!!!! He’s such a gorgeous man!!! The fur coat, cane and blue Mohawk hair….wow! But in the end she discovers his truth about him and stands by him.. , even prepared to die for him.
The relationship between the two is so heartwarming that you want them to have a HEA…and they do despite having to go through hell to get there…being kidnapped, deaths and those pesky lessers getting in between the action.

One of the things I like about this series is that characters from the previous books continue appearing so you have the sense of knowing them and learning more about them.

Wrath and Beth appear and Vishous prophecy about Wrath going blind is coming true. You can feel the pain and fear that Wrath is experiencing as he comes to term that there is no cure and he will eventually become a totally blind King.

There's Xhex and John Mathews whose story will feature in the next book...

Lash, the ex BDB brother who we discover is a lesser and son of the evil Omega is up to his old tricks. He is really wicked.

Tohr, whose wife Wellsie was killed is trying to cope with her death and keeping sane.

I loved this book. There is so much emotion, it’s fast paced and I was totally engrossed in each page I read.